CONNECTICUT  HOSPITAL  FOE  THS  INSANE 
1868“ 1893 


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TO  THE  MEMORY 


OF 

Dr.  Joseph  W.  Alsop; 

ALSO  TO  THE 

TRUSTEES  AND  LOCAL  TRUSTEES, 

OF  THE 

Connecticut  Hospital  for  Insane, 
1868. 


THIS  REPRINT  OF  ONE  QUARTER  OF  A CENTURY  IS  PRE 
SENTED  BY  THE  FIRST  TRUSTEE  OF 
HARTFORD  COUNTY. 


HARTFORD,  CONN.: 

Press  of  The  Case,  Lockwood  & Brainard  Company. 
1895. 


3£.a.a. 
07  Qt 


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TRUSTEES  AND  LOCAL  TRUSTEES 


OF  THE 

OOHHECTIOIIT  HOSPITAL  FOR  IHSAH  E, 

1868. 


JAMES  E.  ENGLISH, 

H.  'SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 

R.  S.  FELLOWES,  . 

B.  W.  TOMPKINS,  . 
CURTIS  T.  WOODRUFF, 

S.  G.  WILLARD, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 
WM.  B.  CASEY, 
LEYERETT  E PEASE, 
BENJ.  DOUGLAS,  . 
JULIUS  HOTCHKISS, 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS, 


New  Haven, 
Hartford  County, 
New  Haven  County, 
New  London  County, 
Fairfield  County, 
Windham  County, 
Litchfield  County, 
Middlesex  County, 
Tolland  County, 
Middletown, 
Middletown, 
Middletown. 


***  At  the  time  the  Charter  was  granted,  attention  was  directed  to  cer- 
tain buildings  for  the  Hospital. 

It  is  but  just  to  myself  to  acknowledge  my  great  obligation  to  that 
noble  woman,  Dorothea  Lynde  Dix,  of  world-wide  fame,  who,  from  the 
first  to  the  close  of  her  useful  life  was  a friend  to  the  Hospital. 

At  my  request  we  visited  the  Institute  building  in  East  Windsor,  as 
parties  in  interest  desired  the  State  should  purchase  them  ; in  reply  to  my 
question  she  said,  ‘‘As  you  become  acquainted  with  the  work  in  hand 
you  will  learn  there  are  no  buildings  for  educational  purposes  suitable  for 
the  care  of  the  insane  ; the  brick  alone  are  valuable.” 


173540 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/tomemoryofdrjoseOOconn 


REPORT. 


General  Assembly,  \ 
May  Session,  1866.  j 

The  Joint  Select  Committee  appointed  at  the  May  Session 
of  the  General  Assembly,  A.D.  1865,  “ to  inquire  into  the 
expediency  and  practicability  of  providing  an  asylum  separate 
from  the  Retreat  in  Hartford,  and  suited  to  the  condition  of 
the  insane,  whether  residing  at  said  Retreat  or  elsewhere  in 
this  State,  with  leave  to  sit  during  the  recess,  and  report  to 
the  next  session  of  the  General  Assembly,”  respectfully  ask 
leave  to  report : 

That  after  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Assembly  at 
which  they  were  appointed  they  issued  circulars  of  inquiry 
which  were  sent  to  the  selectmen  of  each  and  every  of  the 
towns  of  this  State,  replies  to  which  were  in  due  time  received, 
and  the  same  are  herewith  presented  to  be  filed  with  this 
report  for  reference,  should  such  reference  be  desired. 

From  these  replies  the  committee  present  the  following 
summary,  which  they  believe  is  substantially  correct : 

On  the  1st  of  April,  A.D.  1866,  there  were  in  the  Retreat 
at  Hartford,  receiving  aid  from  the  State  appropriations,  one 
hundred  and  forty-seven  (147)  persons. 

In  the  Retreat,  from  Connecticut,  supported  as  private 
patients,  there  were  fifty-five  (55).  There  were  in  the  poor- 
houses  or  otherwise  wholly  or  in  part  supported  by  the  towns 
(as  per  returns  of  committee’s  circular)  two  hundred  and 
four  (204)  persons. 

It  is  estimated  by  Dr.  Butler  and  others  well  acquainted 
with  the  subject  (although  the  committee  are  not  in  posses- 
sion of  the  facts  which  establish  the  soundness  of  that  opinion) 


6 


that  there  are  in  the  State  beside  those  above  enumerated, 
outside  of  the  Retreat  and  poor-houses,  as  many  as  three 
hundred  (300)  insane  persons. 

Upon  recapitulation,  the  number  stands  thus  : 


The  whole  number  of  patients  in  the  Retreat  at  Hartford 
on  the  1st  of  April,  A.D.  1866,  were  two  hundred  and  forty- 
five  (245).  Even  this  number  crowds  the  wards  or  halls  of 
that  institution  to  such  an  extent  that  the  comfort  of  the 
patients  is  disturbed,  and  their  recovery  delayed. 

For  several  years  since  1859  the  Superintendent  of  the 
Retreat  has  represented  the  institution  as  being  crowded,  and 
has  deplored  the  necessity  which  compelled  him  to  refuse 
numerous  applications,  and  to  send  away  chronic  to  make 
room  for  recent  cases  of  insanity. 

The  committee  are  aware  that  the  joint  resolution  under 
which  they  were  appointed  contemplates  provision  only  for 
those  denominated  “ incurable  insane  but  while  it  is  unde- 
niable that  cases  of  incurable  insanity  are  found,  it  is  not 
assumed  by  the  committee  that  all  chronic  cases  are 
incurable. 

The  committee  believe  that  the  confinement  of  a large 
number  of  persons  together,  in  close  rooms,  or  in  inclosures 
shut  out  from  the  beauties  of  the  natural  world  in  the  more 
genial  seasons  of  our  climate,  without  employment  of  any 
kind,  is  calculated  rather  to  intensify  and  increase  any  mor- 
bid tendency  than  to  restore  in  such  afflicted  persons  the 
normal  condition  of  the  faculties.  A change  of  air,  of  scene, 
and  of  occupation  is  always  prescribed  by  the  intelligent 
physician  for  persons  giving  earliest  evidence  of  morbid 
mental  action,  and  it  is  reasonably  presumed  that  if  necessary 
in  the  first  approach  of  derangement,  it  must  be  equally 


In  Retreat,  with  State  aid, 

In  Retreat,  without  aid, 

In  towns  supported  or  aided,  . 
All  others, 


147 

55 

204 

300 


Whole  number  of  insane  in  the  State,  . 


706 


7 


essential  in  the  treatment  of  chronic  insanity,  and  during  all 
the  periods  of  restoration. 

In  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  healthful  and  cheerful 
employment  out  of  doors  during  the  seasons  when  such  occu- 
pations are  appropriate,  and  pleasant  labors  in  well-ordered 
and  well-ventilated  apartments  during  the  colder  portions  of 
the  year,  would  do  much  toward  giving  to  the  class  of  insane 
persons  who  are  the  subject  of  this  inquiry  that  relief  which 
all  treatment  is  intended  to  secure  for  them. 

While  pursuing  this  inquiry  the  committee  have  become 
satisfied  that  there  is  actual  necessity  for  some  legislative 
action,  which  shall  embrace  in  its  scope  the  wants  of  our 
State,  in  providing  not  only  for  the  indigent  and  chronic 
insane,  but  also  for  such  persons  more  happily  situated  who, 
having  abundant  pecuniary  means,  are  not  able  to  secure 
within  the  limits  of  the  State  an  asylum  within  whose  walls 
they  may  find  the  restorative  treatment  which  they  require. 

The  advancing  civilization  of  our  times,  in  its  culture  and 
development  of  all  humane  enterprises,  demands  that  Con- 
necticut should  take  a step  forward  in  her  provision  for  all 
classes  of  unfortunate  persons  within  her  borders  who  need 
either  restoration  or  reform. 

It  is  certain  that  our  beloved  State,  behind  no  other  in 
patriotic  devotion  to  the  whole  country,  is  yet  behind  several 
of  her  sister  States  in  her  provisions  and  appropriations  for 
classes  of  her  own  citizens  who  are  entitled  to  the  sympathy 
and  generous  aid  of  all  who  are  so  highly  favored  as  to 
escape  the  maladies  and  disabilities  under  which  they  languish 
and  so  miserably  suffer. 

With  a population  rapidly  increasing  in  numbers,  in  wealth, 
and  so  devoted  to  acquisition  in  all  the  departments  of  indus- 
try, it  must  soon  inevitably  occur  that  the  present  temporary 
arrangement  with  a private  and  limited  institution,  already 
wholly  inadequate  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  State,  will  become 
altogether  insufficient  to  provide  for  them. 

A wise  forecast,  prompted  by  humane  and  charitable  mo- 
tives worthy  of  our  citizens,  and  especially  of  our  legislation, 


8 


would  indicate  the  soundness  of  a policy  which  should  make 
immediate  and  generous  provision  for  the  wants  of  the  insane 
of  our  State,  of  all  classes,  in  the  erection  of  an  institution 
upon  the  most  improved  plans,  to  be  owned  and  controlled 
by  the  State,  and  to  constitute  one  of  the  sources  of  its 
greatest  honor,  and  most  grateful  mention. 

Of  the  expediency  and  practicability  of  this  course  the 
committee  have  no  doubt. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

SYLVESTER  SMITH, 
JOHN  S.  RICE, 

P.  J.  KINGSBURY, 

H.  B.  MUNSON. 


ACT  TO  CREATE  A HOSPITAL  FOR  THE  INSANE  IN  THE 
STATE  OF  CONNECTICUT. 


Whereas,  The  report  of  the  Commission  appointed  by  this 
Assembly  in  the  year  1865  shows  that  there  are  seven  hun- 
dred and  six  insane  persons  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  of 
whom  two  hundred  and  two  are  in  the  Retreat  at  Hartford ; 
two  hundred  and  four  are  in  the  almshouses,  and  three  hun- 
dred outside  of  both ; and  whereas,  it  is  impossible  to  secure 
suitable  care  and  medical  attention  for  this  large  and  deeply 
afflicted  class,  either  in  the  Retreat  or  in  the  almshouses,  or 
in  private  houses ; and  whereas,  considerations  of  humanity 
and  of  true  economy,  as  well  as  public  welfare  and  of  our 
holy  religion,  all  alike  demand  that  these  persons  should  lib- 
erally be  provided  for  by  the  State;  therefore, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
in  General  Assembly  convened : 

Section  1.  There  shall  be  established  and  maintained,  at 
some  place  in  this  State  to  be  selected  by  a Board  of  Trustees 
as  hereinafter  provided,  an  institution  to  be  named  “ The 
General  Hospital  for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut.” 

Sec.  2.  The  government  thereof  shall  be  vested  in  a 
board  of  twelve  trustees,  consisting  of  the  Governor,  and  one 
from  each  county,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Senate,  and  of  three 
to  be  appointed  by  the  other  trustees,  which  three  shall  be 
selected  from  the  town  or  vicinity  in  which  the  institution 
shall  be  located,  two  of  whom  shall  be  so  appointed  and  com- 
missioned annually ; and  the  places  of  the  two  senior  members, 
as  they  stand  in  the  order  of  their  appointment,  shall  be 
annually  vacated ; and  no  trustee  shall  receive  any  compen- 
sation for  his  services,  but  he  shall  be  allowed  the  amount  of 


10 


expenses  incurred  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office, 
which  amount  shall  be  examined  and  allowed  by  the  Comp- 
troller of  Public  Accounts,  and  paid  from  the  treasury  of  the 
State. 

Sec.  3.  The  trustees  shall  take  charge  of  the  general 
interests  of  the  institution,  ordain  and  execute  its  laws, 
appoint  and  remove  its  officers,  select  a suitable  location  and 
a plan  for  its  building;  shall  exercise  a strict  supervision 
over  all  its  expenditures,  and  discharge  all  other  functions 
usually  devolving  upon  such  trustees ; they  shall  have  power 
to  receive,  by  gift  or  purchase,  a suitable  farm,  and  receive  a 
deed  thereof,  and  the  State  Treasurer  shall  pay  therefor,  in 
case  of  purchase,  on  the  warrant  of  the  Comptroller. 

Sec.  4.  The  Superintendent  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
trustees  at  their  first  or  some  subsequent  meeting.  He  shall 
be  a competent  physician,  and  reside  in  or  near  the  institu- 
tion. As  soon  as  possible  he  shall  procure  the  plan  of  a 
suitable  building  or  buildings,  which  shall  be  approved  and 
contracted  for  by  the  trustees ; he  shall  personally  superin- 
tend its  erection  and  arrangements,  and  whenever  one  section 
of  building  shall  be  completed,  he  shall  open  the  institution 
for  patients  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as  said  trustees 
shall  prescribe,  alwayp  giving  preference  to  the  most  urgent 
cases,  and  to  the  people  of  this  State.  He  shall  be  the 
Treasurer  of  the  institution,  keep  full  and  accurate  accounts  of 
his  receipts  and  expenditures,  and  of  the  property  entrusted  to 
him.  All  accounts,  with  suitable  vouchers,  shall  be  submit- 
ted to  the  trustees,  as  they  shall  require.  He  shall,  before 
entering  upon  his  duties,  give  a bond  to  the  Treasurer  of  the 
State,  with  acceptable  sureties  in  the  sum  of  five  thousand 
dollars,  conditional  that  he  shall  faithfully  account  for  all 
moneys  and  property  received  by  him  as  Superintendent ; but 
no  trustee  shall  be  Superintendent  of  the  institution. 

Sec.  5.  The  State  Treasurer  shall  pay  to  the  trustees,  on 
the  warrant  of  the  Comptroller,  such  sums  of  money  as  they 
shall  require  for  the  location  and  the  building  of  the  hospital, 
not  to  exceed  five  thousand  dollars  at  any  one  time,  and  the 


11 


expenditure  of  which  shall  be  accounted  for  to  the  Comptrol- 
ler, with  the  vouchers,  before  any  other  sum  is  advanced. 

Sec.  6.  The  trustees  shall  hold  their  first  meeting  on  the 
call  of  any  three  of  their  number,  due  notice  being  given  to 
all. 

Sec.  7.  Thirty-five  thousand  dollars  are  hereby  appropri- 
ated to  carry  into  execution  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  8.  This  act  is  to  take  effect  immediately. 

Approved,  June  29,  1866. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable , the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut : 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  “ The  General  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,”  appointed  by  your  Hon- 
orable Body  at  their  last  session  at  New  Haven,  respectfully 
report : 

That  their  first  meeting  was  held  in  the  city  of  Hartford 
in  July  last,  His  Excellency  the  Governor  presiding;  and 
that  the  important  duties  confided  to  them  were  entered  upon 
with  unanimity  and  zeal.  They  found  a prevailing  sentiment 
that  the  State  of  Connecticut  was  earnest  in  the  determination 
to  make  “ ample  and  suitable  provision  for  its  insane” — of 
which  it  is  computed  there  are  between  four  hundred  and  five 
hundred  now  needing  the  protection  of  the  Hospital  — and 
that  the  board  would  be  justly  held  responsible  for  any  need- 
less delay  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  great  object;  indeed, 
the  more  that  was  learned  of  the  insane  in  visits  to  various 
hospitals,  and  of  the  pressing  necessity  in  this  State  for  such 
a curative  institution,  and  of  the  remedial  benefits  to  be  con- 
ferred by  it  upon  the  helpless  class  afflicted  with  the  terrible 
malady  of  insanity,  the  more  interested  and  pledged  were 
your  board  to  provide,  at  the  earliest  period,  a hospital,  which, 
in  its  buildings,  should  combine  all>  the  improvements  for 
economy,  comfort,  and  ventilation,  which  experience  has 
successfully  endorsed,  and  in  the  treatment  of  patients,  all 
those  excellent  methods  which  modern  science  and  Christian 
faithfulness  in  this  peculiar  work  have  developed,  in  order 
that  the  whole,  in  its  working,  shall  conduce,  in  the  words 
of  the  preamble  of  act  of  appointment,  to  “ the  public  welfare,” 


13 


the  glory  of  “our  Holy  Religion  — and,  it  may  be  added, 
to  the  honor  of  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

Under  this  sense  of  responsibility  to  the  benevolent  intent 
of  the  General  Assembly,  your  board  felt  the  necessity  of 
informing  themselves  individually  of  the  needs  in  detail  of 
institutions  for  the  relief  of  insane,  and  visited  personally 
several  hospitals,  thus  bringing  together  many  facts  and  the 
experience  of  well-known  superintendents  in  other  States,  of 
direc't  value  to  their  object. 

After  several  meetings  and  discussions,  and  hearing  the 
claims  and  liberal  propositions  of  other  places,  the  board 
formally  and  unanimously  accepted  a tract  of  land  of  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  which  the  town  of  Middletown 
offered  gratuitously  to  the  State  for  the  purposes  of  the 
Hospital. 

The  location  is  about  two  miles  southeasterly  of  the  city  of 
Middletown,  is  healthy,  sufficiently  elevated,  easy  of  access  by 
land  and  water  (the  depth  of  water  of  the  river  at  end  of 
dock  is  twelve  to  sixteen  feet),  commanding  extended  views 
of  a beautiful  region;  and,  what  is  of  special  mark,  includes 
the  absolute  control  of  a small  stream  called  “ Butler’s  Creek,” 
giving,  by  the  estimates  of  engineers,  an  abundant  water- 
head  of  seventy  feet  above  the  foundation  of  the  proposed 
buildings,  with  a power  adequate  to  all  the  uses  of  water 
within  the  walls,  and  sufficient  for  all  mechanical  and  orna- 
mental appliances,  in  shops  and  on  the  grounds,  which  it 
may  be  convenient  or  proper  to  establish. 

In  selecting  the  special  site  for  the  foundations  of  the  build- 
ings, it  was  found  that  the  economical  and  best  interests  of 
the  State  and  of  the  institution  required  a larger  extent  of 
level  ground  than  existed  on  the  land  given  by  Middletown, 
and  a purchase  was  subsequently  made  of  about  eighty  acres, 
connecting  directly  across  a narrow  highway  with  the  westerly 
line  of  the  former  tract. 

Upon  a plateau  of  this  last-named  land  excavations  were 
begun  for  foundations,  and  a permanent  road  to  the  highway 
constructed,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Abraham  Marvin  Shew, 


14 


the  appointed  Superintendent  of  the  Hospital, — who,  before 
entering  upon  his  duties,  gave  the  required  bond  and  securi- 
ties in  accordance  with  the  “ act,”  and  furnished  a “plan” 
for  the  buildings,  which  was  approved  by  the  board.  The 
particulars  of  the  plan  are  given  in  the  annexed  report  of  the 
Superintendent. 

The  work  on  the  grounds  was  interrupted  by  the  cold  in 
December,  and  resumed  about  the  first  of  April. 

The  slackness  of  the  demand  for  labor  and  stone,  incident 
to  winter,  and  the  fact  of  a “ natural  bridge  ” of  ice  on  the 
river,  were  availed  of  for  cheaply  hauling  to  the  site  several 
hundreds  of  tons  of  sand  and  stone  to  be  ready  for  use  in  the 
spring;  also  for  the  construction  of  a wharf  very  near  to  the 
site.  The  town  of  Middletown  has  consented  to  pay  nearly 
all  of  the  cost  of  the  wharf. 

A decline  in  prices  of  materials  during  the  winter  led  to 
the  purchase  of  two  hundred  thousand  brick,  and  to  the 
making  of  favorable  contracts,  mentioned  in  another  part  of 
this  report,  for  one  million  brick,  five  thousand  perches  of 
stone,  five  hundred  thousand  feet  of  Georgia  pine,  and  other 
lumber,  deliverable  early  in  the  spring,  to  be  stacked  for 
seasoning,  and  for  one  thousand  or  more  barrels  of  lime. 

A contract,  also,  was  made  for  a dam  and  appurtenances, 
with  minute  specifications  for  details  as  to  manner  and  form 
of  construction,  flowage  of  about  three  and  one-half  acres, 
thorough  “ grubbing,”  and  for  the  providing  and  laying  of 
necessary  pipe  to  convey  water  to  the  buildings. 

It  is  confidently  expected  by  the  board,  and  by  competent 
engineers  who  have  been  consulted,  that  the  new  feature  to 
be  introduced  at  this  institution,  viz . : the  economical  service 
of  water  descending  by  gravity  for  use  in  the  buildings,  and 
for  the  motive  power  of  the  necessary  machinery  for  ventila- 
tion and  other  purposes,  instead  of  the  costly  service  of  steam, 
as  in  every  other  hospital  in  the  country,  will  be  of  eminent 
success  and  of  permanent  economy,  saving  thereby  not  only 
the  cost  of  erection  and  repairs  of  expensive  machinery,  but 
hundreds  of  tons  of  coal,  annually,  in  fuel. 


15 


It  will  be  evident  that  this  use  of  water  obviates  the  neces- 
sity of  a steam  engine  with  skilled  attendants,  of  reservoirs 
in  the  upper  stories  of  the  buildings,  which  are  often  liable  to 
leaks,  causing  injury  to  walls  and  furniture,  and  also  of 
troublesome  forcing  pumps.  The  board  do  not  believe  that 
they  overestimate  the  advantages  of  this  provision  of  water. 
A deficient  supply  of  water,  and  the  difficulties  frequently 
experienced  with  the  machinery  that  raises  it,  are  subjects  of 
anxiety  and  complaint  in  many  institutions.  From  these  it 
may  fairly  be  expected  that  your  hospital  will  be  free. 

The  appropriation  of  the  last  General  Assembly  for  the 
supposed  necessary  expenditure  until  the  next  session  was 
only  135,000  of  the  much  larger  sum  which  it  was  well 
known  would  be  needed  for  the  carrying  out  of  their  just  and 
benevolent  intentions  for  this  institution. 

To  accomplish  all  that  was  deemed  by  your  board  indispen- 
sable to  an  early  completion  of  a part  of  the  hospital,  and  the 
early  reception  of  patients,  as  well  as  to  consult  true  economy 
in  choosing  a favorable  time  to  obtain  the  materials  requisite 
for  the  progress  of  the  structure,  it  wras  determined  unani- 
mously to  make  contracts  for  brick,  stone,  lime,  and  lumber, 
with  parties  of  good  standing,  who,  in  every  case,  accepted 
them  “ on  the  condition  of  waiting  the  action  of  the  next 
General  Assembly  for  payment,  without  interest”;  a copy  of 
the  vote  of  the  board  to  this  effect  was  furnished  to  each. 
In  thus  having  on  hand  materials,  especially  lumber,  which 
requires  time  for  seasoning,  your  board  are  convinced  that 
the  building  will  be  ready  for  inmates  several  months  before 
it  could  have  been  had  they  waited  for  the  present  session 
before  making  arrangements  for  supplies. 

As  the  contractors  have  thus  so  willingly  entered  upon 
engagements,  relying  upon  the  faith  of  the  State,  it  may  not 
be  considered  other  than  respectful  on  the  part  of  the  board 
to  call  the  attention  of  your  Honorable  Body  to  the  need  of 
early  legislation  in  behalf  of  the  institution. 

In  Dr.  Shew,  the  Superintendent,  the  board  are  satisfied 
that  a selection  has  been  made  of  a competent,  energetic, 


16 


Christian  man,  devoted  to  the  duties  of  his  position.  He  is 
of  Connecticut  origin,  served  over  two  years  as  Surgeon  in 
the  army  of  the  United  States,  and  in  treatment  of  the  insane 
in  hospitals  nearly  three  years,  and  had  full  testimonials  for 
integrity,  capacity,  and  experience.  His  experience  too, 
derived  from  aiding  in  the  erection  of  extensive  additions  to 
the  New  Jersey  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  (for  which  the 
Legislature  lately  appropriated  $100,000),  made  during  the 
past  year  at  Trenton,  has  been  found  of  much  value.  Dr. 
Buttolph,  Superintendent  of  the  New  Jersey  institution,  who, 
from  character  and  the  experience  of  many  years,  is  an 
acknowledged  authority  in  such  matters,  recommended  Dr. 
Shew  in  the  highest  terms  for  the  direction  of  your  hospital. 
It  is  due  to  Dr.  Buttolph,  and  it  gives  us  pleasure  to  mention 
it,  that  he  voluntarily  came  from  Trenton  to  visit  the  site  at 
Middletown,  and  gave  the  board  important  suggestions  as  to 
plans  and  the  positions  of  buildings. 

The  board  are  greatly  indebted  to  Miss  Dix  for  her  disin- 
terested advice  and  labors,  and  for  attendance,  as  requested, 
at  several  of  the  earlier  meetings,  and  for  the  continued 
interest  she  has  manifested  in  the  progress  of  the  hospital, 
with  which  her  efforts  in  this  State  will  be  identified,  as  they 
justly  are  with  similar  institutions  in  so  many  of  the  other 
States  of  the  Union. 

The  report  of  the  Superintendent  and  Treasurer  is  herewith 
enclosed. 

In  conclusion,  the  Board  of  Trustees  respectfully  request, 

j First,  — An  appropriation  of  $100,000  for  the  needful  ex- 
penditures of  1867-8. 

By  early  action  of  the  General  Assembly,  it  is  believed 
that  the  center  building  and  two  wings,  over  three  hundred 
feet  in  length,  to  contain  two  hundred  patients,  may  be 
opened  during  next  year.  The  report  of  the  Superintendent 
is  referred  to  for  the  dimensions  of  the  buildings,  information 
as  to  plans,  and  reasons  for  work  already  in  progress. 

Second , — The  passing  of  a bill  to  regulate  admissions  of 
patients. 


17 


A draft  of  a bill  for  admission,  under  such  regulations  and 
formalities  as  have  been  found  of  practical  value  in  other 
States,  and  which  Section  4 of  the  act  makes'  it  the  duty  of 
Trustees  to  provide,  will  be  presented  early  in  the  session. 

Third , — An  amendment  of  that  paragraph  of  Section  2,  of 
the  Hospital  Bill,  June  29,  1866,  wrhich  reads : 

“ And  the  places  of  the  two  senior  members,  as  they  stand 
in  the  order,  shall  be  annually  vacated,” 
by  the  addition  of  the  following  words : 

66  But  this  clause  shall  not  take  effect  in  the  case  of  the  two 
senior  members  first  appointed,  until  one  year  after  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Hospital  and  its  being  opened  for  patients.” 

It  is  a very  strong  conviction  on  the  part  of  the  Board,  that 
it  would  be  detrimental  to  the  interests  of  the  State,  and  of 
the  Institution  now  begun,  to  dispense  with  the  services  of 
the  “ two  senior  members.”  The  Trustees  have  spent  much 
time  and  effort  to  fit  themselves  for  the  work  in  hand,  and 
any  change  of  the  existing  harmonious  combination,  before 
the  building  is  occupied  and  yielding  practical  benefits, 
cannot  but  cause  delay,  as  it  would  require  much  time  for 
new  members  to  acquaint  themselves  with  the  necessary 
details. 

Fourth , — A repeal  of  those  paragraphs  of  Section  4 which 
unite  the  duties  of  Treasurer  and  Superintendent,  beginning, 
“ He  shall  be  Treasurer,”  . . . and  ending,  u property 

received  by  him  as  Superintendent.” 

The  Trustees  are  of  opinion  that  the  detailed  labors  of 
Treasurer,  with  care  of  funds,  accounts,  and  vouchers,  can 
best  be  performed  at  small  expense  by  some  person  not  con- 
nected with  the  Hospital,  and  who  shall  reside  in  the  city  of 
Middletown.  The  separation  of  the  two  offices  is  recom- 
mended, and  is  the  practice  in  other  States.  It  is  supposed 
that  Section  8,  defining  “ duties  of  Trustees,”  will,  after 
repeal  of  above  paragraphs,  be  adequate  to  the  appointment 
of  a Treasurer. 

Fifth , — To  amend  Section  3,  by  the  addition  of  the  words, 
“ And  they  shall  have  power  to  receive  bequests  of  property, 
2 


18 


real  or  personal,  and  donations  of  any  description,  for  the 
uses  of  the  Hospital.” 

Your  Trustees,  in  submitting  this  statement  of  their  doings 
to  your  Honorable  Body  for  its  sanction,  believe  they  may 
congratulate  the  citizens  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  on  the 
promising  inception  and  expected  early  completion  of  this 
benevolent  institution. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 


Jos.  R.  Hawley, 

H.  Sydney  Hayden, 
Leverett  E.  Pease, 

S.  G.  Willard, 

B.  W.  Tomplins, 

Wm.  B.  Casey, 

R.  S.  Fellowes, 
Curtiss  T.  Woodruff, 
Robbins  Battell, 


Hartford . 
Hartford  County. 
Tolland  “ 
Windham  “ 
New  London u 
Middlesex  u 
New  Haven  “ 
Fairfield  “ 
Litchfield  “ 


Middletown,  April,  1867. 


REPORT  OF  THE  SUPERINTENDENT. 


Gentlemen  : 

After  receiving  in  October  your  appointment  as 
Superintendent,  and  furnishing  the  necessary  bond,  I entered 
upon  the  duties  of  the  office,  and,  as  required  in  the  act, 
u procured  the  plans  of  a suitable  building”  for  your  pro- 
posed Institution. 

As  Messrs.  Sloan  and  Hutton  of  Philadelphia  are  generally 
acknowledged  to  be  the  architects  most  experienced  in  pro- 
viding plans  for  hospitals,  I applied  to  them  for  the  draw- 
ings, and  spent  several  days  in  their  office  in  consultation 
and  explanation  of  your  wants,  in  which  I had  the  very 
valuable  assistance  of  one  of  the  oldest  superintendents  in 
the  specialty  in  the  United  States.  The  elevation  and  plans 
as  worked  up,  met  your  unanimous  approval. 

The  whole  length  of  the  buildings,  when  completed,  is 
intended  to  be  seven  hundred  and  sixty-eight  (768)  feet, 
with  accommodations  for  at  least  four  hundred  and  fifty 
(450)  patients. 

The  central  building  will  be  sixty  (60)  feet  in  width 
by  one  hundred  and  twenty  (120)  feet  in  depth,  four  stories 
in  height,  and  will  contain  the  necessary  offices,  kitchen,  dis- 
pensary, patients’  reception  rooms,  apartments  for  officers 
and  employes,  chapel  and  amusement  hall. 

There  will  be,  also,  six  retreating  wings,  three  on  each 
side,  of  three  stories  in  height;  and  four  return  wings,  two 
on  each  side,  of  two  stories  in  height. 

It  is  proposed  this  year  to  proceed  only  with  the  erection 
of  the  central  building  and  one  wing,  with  its  connecting 
transept  on  each  side  of  the  center,  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-four  (124)  feet  each,  making  a frontage  of  three  hund- 


20 


red  and  eight  (308)  feet,  with  accommodations  for  at  least 
two  hundred  (200)  patients. 

The  commencement  of  the  Hospital  buildings  with  the 
central  building  and  adjoining  wings,  was  determined  by 
motives  of  economy,  as  will  be  evident  when  it  is  considered 
that  in  the  central  building  are  to  be  placed  the  rooms  for 
the  assistants  and  personnel  of  the  institution ; and  of  the 
kitchen  and  storerooms,  which  thus  will  be  permanent,  sup- 
plying by  tramways  in  the  cellar,  food  and  necessaries  to  all 
the  wings  and  stories  of  the  Hospital  as  they  shall  be  built. 
If  this  plan  had  not  been  adopted,  temporary  kitchens  and 
offices  would  have  been  required,  and,  to  some  extent,  double 
expense  and  removals  made  necessary.  The  time  and  ex- 
pense will,  by  the  plan  adopted,  be  largely  saved. 

All  the  buildings  are  to  be  constructed  of  Portland  free- 
stone, laid  in  broken  range  work,  with  hammer  dressed 
stone  for  corners,  water-tables,  window-sills  and  caps. 

You  are  aware  of  the  completion  of  the  dock,  and  of  the 
giving  out  of  contracts  under  your  direction,  for  lumber, 
lime,  brick,  stone,  sand,  etc.  Of  sand,  about  six  hundred  tons 
have  been  hauled  over  the  ice;  also,  about  fifteen  hundred 
tons  of  wall  stone.  With  your  sanction,  I have  employed  a 
foreman,  head  mason,  and  head  carpenter,  and  we  are  fully 
prepared  to  resume  work. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  the  five  months  since  my 
connection  with  your  Board  have  included  the  winter 
months,  and,  of  course,  the  most  unfavorable  of  the  year  for 
outdoor  work. 

During  the  month  of  December  we  completed  a macad- 
amized road,  at  uniform  grade,  from  the  main  highway  to 
the  building  site,  and  were  engaged  in  making  the  necessary 
excavation  for  cellars,  when  the  cold  weather  interrupted  the 
work  ; but  the  plans  are  matured  and  the  means  for  progress 
in  such  preparation,  that  I have  no  doubt  that  within  a short 
time  very  satisfactory  advance  may  be  shown. 

The  varied  matters  connected  with  the  duties  of  a Superin- 
tendent, especially  during  the  period  of  the  erection  of  the 


21 


Hospital,  induce  me  to  suggest  that  the  keeping  of  accounts 
in  detail,  with  accuracy,  and  with  vouchers  as  required  by 
the  law  creating  the  office  of  Treasurer  of  the  institution, 
might  advantageously  be  separated  from  the  complicated 
duties  of  oversight  of  the  building. 

The  important  contract  for  the  dam,  and  for  the  intro- 
duction of  the  water  of  Butler’s  Creek  to  the  immediate 
premises  of  the  Hospital  grounds,  has  been  made  with  Mr. 
George  H.  Norman,  and  includes  almost  every  possible 
contingency  for  its  perfect  completion  ; grubbing,  mauling, 
stone  work,  pipe  and  pipe  connections,  with  necessary  blow- 
offs,  etc. 

My  report,  as  Treasurer,  audited  by  your  Committee,  is 
herewith  enclosed. 

The  proposed  bill  for  admission  of  patients  will  be  pre- 
pared to  be  presented  to  the  General  Assembly  for  its  sanc- 
tion. It  requires  time  and  consultation  to  have  it  meet  the 
requirements  of  the  laws  of  the  State. 

It  is  due  to  the  people  of  Middletown,  that  I should 
allude  to  the  deep  interest  they  have  constantly  manifested 
in  all  matters  relating  to  the  progress  of  the  Institution. 

In  closing  this  imperfect  report  of  a short  period,  I would 
express  my  gratitude  to  the  Board  for  ther  uniform  confi- 
dence and  encouragement  in  the  important  trust  committed 
to  my  charge. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

ABM.  MARVIN  SHEW,  Superintendent. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  April  1, 1867. 


REPOET  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut : 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  General  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  of  this  State  beg  leave  respectfully  to  report : that 
since  their  first  Report  to  your  Honorable  Body  the  highly 
important  work  committed  to  their  charge  of  erecting  and 
preparing  a suitable  hospital  for  the  insane  of  this  State,  has 
been  steadily  and  zealously  pursued. 

On  the  20th  of  June  last  the  corner  stone  of  the  hospital 
was  laid,  with  impressive  and  appropriate  ceremonies,  by 
Governor  English,  in  the  presence  of  the  State  officers,  mem- 
bers of  the  legislature,  and  a large  concourse  of  deeply  inter- 
ested spectators.  Addresses  were  made  by  Governor  English, 
ex-Governor  Hawley,  Dr.  Pliny  Earle  of  Northampton,  Mass., 
Rev.  Dr.  Cummings  of  Wesleyan  University,  and  Prof.  Thacher 
of  Yale  College;  and  it  is  believed  that  not  one  of  that  vast 
assemblage  went  away  dissatisfied  with  the  noble  purpose 
and  policy  of  the  State  then  and  there  set  forth  and  pro- 
claimed. 

The  work  has  since  been  vigorously  pushed  on.  The  car- 
penter’s shop,  laundry,  bake-house,  kitchen,  and  boiler-house 
are  completed.  The  air  shaft,  so  indispensable  a portion  of 
the  edifice,  is  finished,  and  the  ventilating  flues  duly  arranged. 
The  south  wing  and  return  wing  are  fully  completed  and 
ready  for  occupancy  on  the  first  of  May.  The  main  or  center 
building  is  in  an  advanced  state  of  forwardness,  is  roofed 
and  pointed,  and  will  soon  be  finished.  Water,  of  which 
the  supply  is  ample,  of  excellent  quality,  and  believed 
to  be  unfailing,  has  been  brought  more  than  a mile  and 
introduced  throughout  the  building.  By  an  arrangement 
with  the  Middletown  Gas  Company,  mains  have  been  laid 


23 


from  the  city  and  the  pipes  carried  through  the  building. 
An  engine  and  boiler,  steam-heating  apparatus,  and  a patent 
washing-machine  have  been  put  in.  The  bedsteads,  bedding, 
and  other  furniture,  sufficient  for  a hundred  patients,  have 
been  provided,  and  we  are  now  ready  to  receive  that  number 
of  male  patients.  The  foundation  and  basement  story  of  the 
north  wing  and  return  wing  were  also  laid  last  fall,  and  are 
waiting  for  the  superstructure. 

The  buildings  are  of  Portland  stone,  “ laid  in  broken  range 
work,  with  hammer-dressed  stone  for  corners,  water-tables, 
window-sills,  and  caps.”  They  are  roofed  with  slate  and  fin- 
ished, without  and  within,  in  a style  which,  though  severely 
plain  and  simple,  is  yet  not  devoid  of  taste  and  beauty ; and 
the  Board  of  Trustees  believe  that  the  hospital  will  be  regarded 
as  a model  of  strength,  durability,  and  perfect  adaptation  to 
its  objects. 

The  work  has  been  done  thoroughly,  and  yet  as  economic- 
ally as  possible  under  the  circumstances,  and,  when  finished, 
the  edifice  will  be  one  of  which  the  State  of  Connecticut  may 
be  justly  proud.  The  early  and  unusual  severity  of  the  past 
season  unavoidably  interrupted  the  work  and  occasioned  great 
delay,  difficulty,  and  increased  expense  in  its  progress ; but  the 
board  are  satisfied  that  all  those  employed  upon  it,  whether  as 
superintendents  or  operatives,  have  been  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  duties,  and  have,  moreover,  been  animated  by 
a proper  and  zealous  spirit.  Dr.  A.  M.  Shew,  the  Medical 
Superintendent,  to  whom,  by  the  act  creating  the  hospital,  was 
committed  the  duty  of  procuring  the  plan  of  a suitable  build- 
ing or  buildings,  “ and  of  personally  superintending  its  erec- 
tion and  arrangement,”  has  very  faithfully  and  efficiently  dis- 
charged his  duties,  has  been  untiring  in  his  zeal  and  energy, 
and  has  personally  supervised  every  part  of  the  buildings  and 
their  appointments. 

The  General  Assembly,  at  its  last  session,  promptly  voted 
a liberal  sum  for  the  completion  of  the  buildings.  The  appro- 
priation, from  various  causes,  lias  proved  to  be  insufficient, 
and  the  board  are  therefore  compelled  to  apply  to  the  Assem- 


24 


bly  for  such  additional  appropriation  as  will  enable  them  to 
go  on  and  finish  their  work.  No  more  noble,  no  more  neces- 
sary charity  can  be  brought  before  the  State;  and  if  Connect- 
icut would  not  be  immeasurably  behind  her  sister  States  in 
provision  for  the  insane,  a prompt  and  unhesitating  response 
will  be  made  to  this  application. 

It  will  not  be  improper  nor  out  of  place  in  a report  of  this 
kind  to  cite  the  opinions  of  persons  who  have  devoted  much 
time  and  attention  to  these  matters,  and  are  fully  conversant 
with  the  requirements  of  such  institutions. 

Dr.  Kirkbride,  the  accomplished  Superintendent  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  and  President  of  the 
Association  of  Superintendents,  thus  remarks: 

“ Every  one  concerned  in  providing  accommodations  for 
the  insane  may  rely  upon  the  fact  being  established  by  all 
experience  that  the  best  kind  of  hospitals,  not  only  best  built, 
but  with  the  most  perfect  arrrangements  and  fixtures  of 
every  kind,  and  managed  in  the  most  liberal  and  enlightened 
manner,  are  sure  to  be  the  most  economical  in  the  end  (for 
true  economy  consists  not  only  in  avoiding  all  waste  and  ex- 
travagance, but  also  in  doing  thoroughly  whatever  is  under- 
taken), will  fullfil  most  completely  the  objects  for  which 
they  are  erected,  and  ultimately  give  most  satisfaction  to 
every  enlightened  community.”  Again,  in  another  place,  he 
remarks  : “ The  difference  in  cost  between  a hospital  that  is 
well-built  and  one  that  is  badly,  — between  one  that  is  com- 
plete in  all  its  arrangements  and  one  that  is  imperfect,  — 
between  one  liberally  and  one  meanly  managed,  is  really  so 
small  that  if  the  good  citizens  of  any  State  would  make  the 
simple  calculation  how  much  of  this  extra  expense  would  fall 
upon  each  one  of  them,  it  can  scarcely  be  credited  that  a sin- 
gle individual  could  be  found  anywhere  who  would  be  willing 
to  admit  that  he  would  not  cheerfully  bear  his  proportion  of 
it,  even  if  it  had  never  occurred  to  him  that,  at  some  period 
or  other,  he  might  not  himself  be  compelled,  personally,  to 
test  the  character  of  the  provision  for  the  insane  made  by  his 
State.” 


25 


Again,  we  quote  from  the  66  First  Biennial  Report  of  the 
Trustees  for  the  Iowa  Hospital  for  the  Insane,”  made  in 
1861: 

“ The  cost  of  hospital  buildings  for  the  insane  cannot,  with 
propriety,  be  estimated  by  the  cubic  foot,  and  placed  in  com- 
parison with  other  public  buildings,  because  the  peculiar  uses 
for  which  they  are  erected  require  a peculiar  and  expensive 
construction  and  fixtures,  which  other  State  edifices  do  not 
require.  Insane  people  must  have  ample  room  and  provisions 
for  restoring  health,  and  for  the  personal  comfort  and  the 
security  of  each  individual.  Safety  from  the  calamities  of 
destruction  by  fire,  and  from  the  escape  of  inmates,  is  essen- 
tial; but  these  safeguards  cost  many  thousands  of  dollars  in 
construction.  The  single  extra  item  of  window-guards  has 
cost  this  institution  more  than  14,000. 

“ The  best  sanitary  arrangements  in  any  case  do  not  admit 
of  crowded  apartments,  but  the  space  required  by  the  insane 
is  more  than  double  that  usually  allotted  to  the  sick  with 
other  than  mental  diseases.  About  eighty  per  cent,  of  the 
insane  require  each  a distinct  and  well-ventilated  apartment 
to  sleep  in,  separated  from  others  by  walls  of  masonry. 

“ From  an  examination  of  the  cost  modernly  constructed 
first-class  hospitals  for  the  insane  in  the  United  States  [and 
it  must  be  noticed  that  this  report  was  made  in  1861,  before 
the  war  and  its  results  had  stimulated  and  enhanced  the  cost 
of  everything],  we  find  them  to  be  not  less  than  $1,000  for 
each  patient  properly  provided  for,  while  the  proportionate 
cost  of  some  of  them  considerably  exceeds  this  sum.  Thus, 
the  new  Government  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  near  Washing-' 
ton,  which  is  built  of  brick  and  will  accommodate  800,  or 
possibly  350  patients,  has  cost  $473,040.  The  new  Hospital 
for  the  Insane  near  Cincinnati,  also  built  of  brick,  has  cost 
more  than  $1,000  for  each  patient  provided  for ; and  the 
same  may  be  said  of  the  two  new  hospitals  in  Northern  and 
Southern  Ohio,  at  Newburg  and  Dayton.” 

But  again,  we  make  a quotation  from  a memorial  of  Miss 
Dix  to  the  legislature  of  New  Jersey  in  1845 : “It  is  said 


26 


that  the  establishment  of  hospitals  involves  expense,  that  it 
is  much  cheaper  to  maintain  the  insane  elsewhere.  Is  it  also 
computed  at  what  actual  cost  these  are  supported  in  the  State 
Penitentiary,  in  county  jails,  in  poor-houses,  and  in  families  ? 
What  sums  are  consumed  by  their  uncontrolled  habits  of 
destructiveness  ; what  are  lost  by  their  crimes  when,  under 
frenzied  impulses  they  fire  buildings,  take  human  life,  and 
make  wreck  of  all  social  and  domestic  peace  and  happiness  ? 
What  sums  are  uselessly  expended  in  conducting  the  trials 
of  insane  criminals  ? What  cost  of  supporting  the  large  class 
of  incurables,  who,  if  timely  treated,  would  have  been  restored 
to  society  and  usefulness  — to  health  and  enjoyment?” 

Lastly,  we  quote  from  a report  presented  to  the  Fourth 
Annual  Meeting  of  the  Rhode  Island  Hospital,  which  thus 
concludes : 

66  It  is  objected  by  some  that  hospitals  are  expensive ; of 
this  we  are  fully  aware.  But  are  not  streets  and  bridges  very 
expensive  ? Are  not  our  private  residences,  our  churches, 
and  other  edifices  very  expensive  ? The  practical  question  is 
not  whether  a hospital  costs  a large  sum  of  money,  but 
whether  it  is  worth  what  it  costs , whether  the  money  is  judi- 
ciously expended.  No  great  institutions,  dispensing  their 
blessings  from  generation  to  generation,  can  be  established 
without  costing  money.  But  what  nobler  use  for  money 
than  to  establish  them  ? How  trifling  and  ignoble  and  evan- 
escent are  the  objects  of  many  of  our  expenditures,  compared 
with  the  founding  of  a great  institution  for  the  relief  of  the 
suffering,  for  the  healing  of  the  sick,  and  for  the  exempli- 
fication of  a true  Christian  benevolence  for  centuries  to 
come?” 

These  remarks,  so  truly  and  appropriately  made  in  reference 
to  a “ general  hospital,”  come  with  three-fold  force  when 
applied  to  a hospital  for  the  insane. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  has  held  regular  monthly  meet- 
ings during  the  year,  and  various  members  have,  besides, 
from  time  to  time,  visited  the  institution,  inspected  the  work, 
and  satisfied  themselves  that  everything  was  going  on  well. 


27 


In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  act  creating 
the  hospital,  the  board  elected  three  additional  trustees  from 
Middletown,  viz. : Hon.  Benjamin  Douglas,  Hon.  Julius  Hotch- 
kiss, and  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Cummings ; and  these  gentlemen 
have  zealously  and  effectively  cooperated  with  the  old  board, 
and  participated  in  its  doings  and  deliberations,  thereby 
evincing  the  wisdom  of  the  legislature  in  providing  for  such 
addition. 

In  accordance,  also,  with  the  amendments  to  the  act,  passed 
at  the  last  session  of  the  Assembly,  which  separated  the  office 
of  Treasurer  from  that  of  Superintendent,  the  board  elected 
M.  B.  Copeland,  Esq.  (cashier  of  Middletown  National  Bank), 
to  the  office  of  Treasurer,  which  office  that  gentleman  has 
since  filled  to  the  acceptance  of  the  board. 

At  the  February  meeting  of  the  board,  held  at  the  residence 
of  the  Hon.  H.  Sidney  Hayden  of  Windsor  (at  that  time  dis- 
abled by  a painful  accident),  Dr.  Winthrop  B.  Halloek  was 
appointed  Assistant  Physician,  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Halloek, 
Matron;  and  Charles  W.  Galpin  of  Middletown,  who  had, 
from  the  inception  of  the  undertaking,  efficiently  and  satisfac- 
torily discharged  the  duties  of  clerk  to  the  Superintendent, 
was  appointed  Steward. 

The  board  also  appointed  a committee  to  prepare  a code  of 
by-laws  and  regulations,  and  to  fix  the  terms  and  conditions 
upon  which  patients  should  be  admitted.  This  committee  has 
discharged  the  duties  assigned  to  it,  and  has  drawn  up  and 
caused  to  be  printed  a series  of  rules  and  regulations,  which 
have  been  approved  by  the  board,  and  are  ready  for  the  exam- 
ination of  the  legislature. 

At  one  of  the  more  recent  meetings  of  the  board  a commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  ascertain  the  number  of  insane  persons 
in  the  State,  and  circulars  were  sent  to  the  selectmen  and 
physicians  of  every  town  in  the  State,  with  blank  returns  to 
be  filled  up,  giving  the  number,  sex,  age,  and  condition  of  all 
insane  persons  in  the  State,  how  and  by  whom  supported,  etc. 

By  a report  submitted  to  the  legislature  in  1865  it  appears 
that  there  are  about  seven  hundred  insane  persons  in  the 


28 


State,  though  it  is  believed  that  this  is  considerably  below  the 
actual  number.  Partial  returns  from  the  selectmen  and  other 
sources  give  five  hundred  and  eighty-four  as  the  present 
number  of  insane  persons  in  the  State,  but  this  is  evidently 
an  incorrect  computation,  and  much  below  the  fact. 

To  show  how  difficult  it  is  to  get  accurate  returns  of  this 
sort,  we  refer  to  a statement  of  Dr.  Edward  Jarvis  of  Dor- 
chester, Mass.,  who,  when  Commissioner  of  Lunacy  for  that 
State,  finding  that  no  reliance  could  be  placed  upon  the  returns 
furnished  by  the  national  and  State  census,  sent  letters  to 
every  physician  in  the  State,  with  blanks  for  them  to  fill  and 
return.  The  result  was,  that  while  the  national  census  of 
1850  reported  1,680  insane  persons,  and  the  State  census  of 
1855  returned  1,909,  the  commissioner’s  record  of  1854 
actually  gave  the  names  of  2,632 ; and  upon  close  and 
careful  examination  of  these  by  himself,  and  afterward  by  the 
legislature,  only  one  name  was  found  to  be  duplicated. 

But  to  return  to  our  State  reports.  By  reference  to  these, 
and  to  communications  received  from  reliable  private  sources 
of  information,  it  is  found  that  there  are  many  cases  of  in- 
sanity in  the  State,  the  mere  recital  of  which  would  melt  a 
heart  of  stone.  Some  have  been  confined  in  out-houses  for 
twenty  or  thirty  years,  or  more  ; others  kept  in  private  fam- 
ilies and  chained  by  a leg  to  the  floor ; others  still  subjected 
to  the  most  cruel  and  inhuman  systems  of  restraint,  receiv- 
ing no  medical  attendance,  and  with  no  prospect  of  change, 
or  improvement.  Now,  the  fact  that  such  things  are  true  in 
this  nineteenth  century,  and  in  so  advanced,  enlightened,  and 
wealthy  a State  as  Connecticut,  shows  very  clearly  and 
forcibly  the  need  of  such  an  institution  as  that  of  which  we 
have  the  honor  and  privilege  to  be  in  charge ; and  we  can 
truly  affirm  that  Connecticut  has  not  been  a day  too  soon  in 
making  the  munificent  provision  which  she  has  begun,  and 
will  doubtless  continue  to  make  for  the  care  and  protection 
and  restoration  of  this  preeminently  unfortunate  class  of  her 
children.  Ordinary  sickness  of  any  kind,  especially  when 
combined  with  poverty,  is  grievous  to  be  borne ; but  who  can 


29 


estimate  or  properly  depict  the  horrors  of  a malady  which 
abolishes  reason  and  judgment,  which  destroys  the  mind  as 
well  as  the  body,  and  consigns  an  immortal  soul  to  the  un- 
told miseries  of  insanity  ! The  Almighty  only  knows  the 
depth  and  amount  of  such  a condition  of  suffering,  and 
He  will  demand  from  those  of  us  who  are  more  favored  a 
strict  account  of  the  treatment  which  such  unfortunates  re- 
ceive at  our  hands. 

♦ 

From  what  has  now  been  said,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  care 
of  the  insane,  and  more  especially  the  insane  poor,  is  not  a 
mere  question  of  dollars  and  cents,  but  of  sound  policy,  true 
economy,  a wise  humanity,  philanthropy,  and  religion.  Such 
is  the  view  which  the  members  of  this  board  take  of  their 
trust,  and  such,  we  believe,  is  the  view  that  will  be  taken  of 
it  by  your  honorable  body. 

The  cost  of  the  buildings  may  to  some  appear  large,  but 
we  can  conscientiously  affirm  that  not  a single  dollar  lias 
been  wasted  or  misapplied.  The  State  of  Connecticut  is 
wealthy  and  liberal,  and  this  board,  as  the  almoners  of  her 
bounty,  did  not  dare  to  erect  a mean,  niggardly,  inappropriate 
structure,  when  such  grave  and  important  interests  were  in- 
volved. They  were  not  limited  by  public  enactment  to  any 
specific  amount,  and  they  were  perfectly  aware  that  the  edu- 
cated and  enlightened  public  sentiment  of  the  State  would 
not  sanction,  nor  allow  of,  any  miserly  and  illiberal  construc- 
tion of  the  act  which  created  this  much-needed  institution. 
They  have  therefore  gone  forward,  and  actuated  by  prudence 
and  economy,  as  well  as  a desire  to  carry  out  what  they  be- 
lieved to  be  the  intent  of  the  people  of  the  State,  have  par- 
tially erected  an  edifice,  which  is  designed  not  only  for  to-day, 
but  for  future  years,  and  which  they  are  satisfied  will  fully 
meet  the  wishes  and  expectations  of  the  State. 

The  funds,  so  liberally  appropriated  by  the  last  legislature, 
are  now  exhausted,  and  to  complete  the  center  building  and 
north  wing,  and  meet  outstanding  obligations,  a further  ap- 
propriation of  1162,384  will  be  required.  The  board  do  not 
entertain  a doubt  that  this  sum,  and  more  still,  if  requisite, 


30 


will  unhesitatingly  be  voted  by  this  assembly.  Indeed,  the 
members  of  the  board  have  become  individually  and  jointly 
liable  for  the  sum  of  $30,000,  in  the  shape  of  a loan  from 
the  banks,  because  they  saw  last  autumn  that  if  funds  were 
not  at  once  provided,  the  work  must  come  to  a stop,  to  the 
very  great  detriment  of  the  public  interest,  and  to  the  oc- 
casioning of  injurious  delay  as  regarded  the  class  of  unfor- 
tunates for  whom  the  institution  was  designed,  yhere  is,  in 
addition,  a debt  of  $41,614  for  materials,  fixtures,  furniture, 
labor,  etc.,  to  be  provided  for  from  the  next  appropriation. 
We  said  “ injurious  delay,”  for  every  day  that  defers  the  re- 
ception and  treatment  of  these  patients,  increases  the  diffi- 
culty and  diminishes  the  probability  of  their  restoration  to 
health  and  sanity. 

It  is  unnecessary  at  this  day  to  go  over  the  whole  ground 
of  argument  in  favor  of  the  early  treatment  of  the  insane, 
whom  it  is  well-known  cannot  be  successfully  treated  at  home; 
and  we  will  mention  here  another  fact  — to  which  we  may 
again  recur  — that  from  eighty  to  ninety  per  cent,  of  recent 
cases  are  curable.  We  shall,  however,  adduce  the  opinions  of 
those  who  have  had  large  experience  in  the  care  of  this  class 
of  patients. 

We  make,  in  the  first  place,  a brief  extract  from  the  report 
of  the  superintendent  of  the  Iowa  State  Hospital,  bearing 
upon  this  point ; and  his  statements  are  equally  applicable  to 
•our  own  State : 

“ For  several  years  prior  to  the  opening  of  this  hospital,” 
he  says,  “ the  insane  of  this  State  had  been  necessarily  con- 
fined in  jails  with  criminals,  and  in  county  infirmaries  (poor- 
houses)  in  gradually  increasing  numbers,  until  there  existed 
the  most  painful  necessity  for  other  and  more  appropriate 
accommodations  for  them.  During  the  last  ten  years,  a few 
of  the  insane  of  the  State  had  obtained  places  in  the  institu- 
tions of  other  States,  at  an  inconvenient  expense ; private 
families  have  been  burtliened,  and  their  safety  put  in  peril  by 
others ; and  upon  some  the  grave  has  prematurely,  though 
kindly,  closed.  But  the  majority  have,  for  no  crime,  been 


31 


compelled  to  occupy,  more  or  less,  the  felon’s  cell.  Relief, 
though  tardy,  came  at  last,  and  so  great  was  the  desire  of  citi- 
zens to  obtain  admission  for  their  afflicted  friends,  that,  during 
the  first  twelve  weeks,  more  than  one  hundred  patients  were 
admitted.  It  is  painful  to  add,  that  so  long  had  these  poor 
sufferers  been  confined  under  adverse  sanitary  circumstances, 
not  one  in  ten  of  all  this  number  will  ever  recover  the  right 
use  of  reason  ; whereas,  eighty  or  ninety  of  them,  under  the 
best  treatment,  early  applied,  would  certainly  have  been  cured. 
These  are  facts  which  should  arrest  the  attention  of  every 
citizen.  They  show  most  clearly  the  importance  of  the 
earliest  possible  application  of  restorative  treatment.  Insan- 
ity is  only  curable,  as  a rule,  before  the  delicate  textures  of 
the  brain  have  suffered  injury  from  chronic  disease.  For  the 
curative  treatment  of  mental  diseases,  a month  during  their 
incipient  stages  is  worth  more  than  a whole  year  in  their 
advanced  stages.  Indeed,  no  subsequent  period,  however 
protracted,  can  compensate  for  the  loss  of  the  golden  early 
period  in  which  to  treat  successfully  diseases  of  the  mind.” 

In  the  memorial  of  Miss  Dix,  before  referred  to,  we  find 
tables  showing  the  relative  expense  of  supporting  old  and  re- 
cent cases  of  insanity,  and  we  quote  a few  of  the  figures : 
From  Dr.  Awl’s  report  of  the  Ohio  State  Institution,  for  the 
year  1840,  it  appears  that  the 


Average  cost  of  supporting  old 

cases 

was, 

. 

. 11,903.60 

u u 

new  66 

u 

• 

56.00 

Report  of  1841,  average  cost  of  old  cases 

was, 

. 1,969.00 

u u 

u 

new 

u 

u 

52.22 

Report  of  1842, 

u 

old 

u 

u 

. 2,020.00 

u u 

u 

recent46 

u 

45.20 

Report  of  1843, 

u 

old 

u 

. 2,239.10 

u u 

u 

new 

u 

u 

65.41 

In  Massachusetts  for  1843, 

old 

u 

66 

. 2,166.20 

u 

u 

new 

u 

6,6 

58.45 

In  Maine  for  1842, 

old 

u 

(6 

. 2,108.33 

66  66 

new 

u 

66 

35.50 

32 


In  Virginia  (Staunton),  av.  cost  of  old  cases  was,  . $2,081.65 

“ “ u new  “ “ . 63.25 

Of  course  this  very  great  difference  in  cost  is  owing  to  the 
fact  that  the  recent  cases  are  soon  cured  and  discharged, 
while  the  old  or  chronic  are  kept  on  indefinitely,  but  it  is  no 
less  a strong  and  irrefutable  argument  in  favor  of  the  early 
treatment  of  cases  of  insanity. 

Every  consideration,  then,  of  humanity,  of  economy,  of 
sound  policy,  goes  to  sustain  and  enforce  the  appeal  we  now 
make  to  the  State,  for  prompt  and  liberal  assistance  in  com- 
pleting the  work  entrusted  to  us.  It  is  superfluous  to  say 
that  the  members  of  this  board  have  no  other  or  further  in- 
terest in  this  matter  than  that  shared,  or  which  should  be 
shared,  by  every  citizen  of  the  State ; but  the  very  important 
trust  having  been  imposed  upon  us,  without  any  seeking  or 
solicitation  on  our  part,  we  feel  a greater  responsibility  on 
account  of  our  official  connection  with  the  institution,  and 
are  therefore  desirous  that  the  work  shall  be  pushed  on  as 
speedily  and  vigorously  as  possible. 

We  might,  to  be  sure,  have  provided  at  less  cost,  a flimsy, 
unsubstantial,  and  inappropriate  building,  but  we  did  not  and 
do  not  believe  this  to  be  the  wish  and  intention  of  the  people 
of  Connecticut.  We  have  therefore  endeavored  faithfully  and 
conscientiously  to  discharge  the  trust  imposed  upon  us : to 
promote  the  best  interests  of  the  State  and  of  that  very  inter- 
esting and  deeply  afflicted  class  of  her  children  for  whom  this 
hospital  is  intended. 

Many  urgent  calls  for  the  accommodation  of  patients  have 
already  been  received  from  different  parts  of  the  State.  The 
officers  of  the  Retreat  at  Hartford  have  notified  the  various 
towns  having  male  patients  under  their  care  that  they  must 
remove  them  by  the  first  of  May,  as  it  has  been  determined 
to  expend  $100,000  in  altering  and  improving  that  excellent 
and  well-managed  institution.  Some,  even,  of  private  patients, 
a class  for  which  that  hospital  was  and  is  designed,  must  be 
removed,  to  allow  of  the  contemplated  improvements. 


38 


These  and  other  facts  have  convinced  the  board  that  great 
distress  and  perplexity  will  result  should  the  completion  of 
the  State  hospital  be  delayed,  and  that  they  will  be  fully  jus- 
tified in  carrying  forward  the  work  intrusted  to  them. 

It  now  rests  with  your  honorable  body  to  say  whether  the 
work  shall  go  on  and  be  completed  in  a manner  befitting  so 
wealthy,  enlightened,  and  benevolent  a State,  and  we  do  not 
doubt  that  the  wisdom  and  sound  policy  of  this  assembly  will 
be  evinced  by  directing  the  board  of  trustees  to  go  forward 
with  their  noble  and  important  work,  so  that  all  those  who 
are  entitled  to  claim  may,  as  speedily  as  possible,  receive  its 
benefits. 

We  append, for  the  information  of  such  members  of  the  legis- 
lature as  may  not  be  familiar  with  the  facts,  a brief  summary 
of  what  other  States  have  done  and  are  doing  in  behalf  of 
their  insane,  and  trust  that  Connecticut  will  not  long  be 
behind  the  record. 

We  make  an  extract  from  the  Fourth  Annual  Report  of  the 
Directors  and  Superintendent  of  the  West  Virginia  Hospital 
for  the  Insane  for  1867. 

“ Massachusetts , with  five  large  hospitals  within  her  borders, 
is  providing  a sixth”;  and  has  several  municipal  and  private 
establishments. 

New  York , with  five  large  public  and  some  excellent  private 
hospitals,  has  just  resolved  to  erect  two  more  that  will  cost 
nearly  if  not  quite  a million  of  dollars. 

New  Jersey , small  but  brave  in  duty,  with  one  of  the  best 
hospitals  in  the  world,  has  just  resolved  to  provide  for  all 
their  insane,  and  is  enlarging,  at  an  expected  cost  of  two  or 
three  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Pennsylvania , with  five  hospitals  of  large  size  and  some 
smaller  ones,  is  enlarging  its  Western  Hospital  and  canvass- 
ing for  another  in  some  unprovided  section  of  the  State. 

Maryland , with  two  excellent  hospitals,  is  now  building 
two  more  that,  when  finished,  will  cost,  together,  over  half  a 
million  of  dollars,  — one  of  them  being  from  private  munifi- 
3 


34 


cence  entirely  ; (and  the  State  has  recently  voted  an  appropri- 
ation for  the  enlargement  of  one  of  the  older.) 

Ohio , with  five  excellent  hospitals  (one  devoted  to  the 
colored  insane)  has  just  resolved  to  enlarge  two  of  them  to 
more  than  double  their  present  capacity,  and  also  to  erect  a 
sixth,  equal  to  any  of  the  others,  the  cost  of  all  wdiich  is 
estimated  at  from  one-half  to  three-fourths  of  a million  of 
dollars. 

Kentucky  has  two,  and  means  44  to  provide  for  every  insane 
person  within  her  limits.” 

Iowa,  Indiana,  Maine,  Vermont,  New  Hampshire,  Alabama, 
Virginia,  and  almost  all  the  other  States  have  at  least  one ; 
.and  even  little  Rhode  Island,  besides  a large  hospital  for  the 
insane,  has  recently  built  a general  hospital  at  Providence, 
which,  up  to  September  30,  1867,  had  already  cost  about 
$ 338,000, and  will,  when  completed,  reach  the  sum  of  $500,000. 
Very  recently,  moreover,  this  noble  little  State  has  taken 
preliminary  steps  for  building  another  hospital  for  the  insane. 
Will  Connecticut  be  behind  her  sister  States  in  making  ample 
provision  for  all  her  insane  poor?  We  will  not  believe  it. 
The  supposition  is  a reproach  to  her  fair  fame  and  honor. 

We  cannot  better  or  more  appropriately  conclude  this  report 
than  by  making  a few  quotations  from  the  addresses  of  Gov. 
English  and  ex-Gov.  Hawley,  on  the  occasion  of  laying  the 
corner-stone  of  the  hospital. 

64  It  is  true,”  remarked  Governor  English,  44  that  we  have  a 
large  State  debt,  and,  besides  that,  a large  national  debt  to 
carry,  but  there  are  few  citizens  of  Connecticut  who  would 
wish  the  State  to  refuse  to  do  her  duty  to  the  suffering  and 
unfortunate  class  for  whom  this  hospital  is  building. 

44  This  is  the  founding  of  one  of  the  noblest  charities  to  which 
humanity  can  be  devoted.  It  promises  to  reward  all  our  care, 
all  our  expenditure,  all  our  hopes  with  a rich  harvest  of  ben- 
efits. In  the  coming  years  its  blessings  will  flow  as  broadly 
and  deeply  and  at  the  same  time  as  beneficially  as  the  waters 
of  yonder  river,  in  a never-ending  stream. 

44  Large  as  some  may  consider  the  last  appropriation,  it  is 


35 


small  when  compared  with  the  magnitude  of  the  evil  to  be 
met,  and  the  demands  of  this  class  of  unfortunates  upon  our 
charity,  and  especially  when  compared  with  the  population 
of  the  State.  In  Connecticut  there  are  upwards  of  half  a 
million  of  people.  This  appropriation  will  only  add  an  aver- 
age of  30  cents  to  the  list  of  each  tax-payer,  and  what  a work 
of  good  is  by  this  small  expenditure  accomplished ! No  one 
who  shall  see  this  institution  in  practical  operation,  and 
note  the  patients  who  shall  be  cured  or  benefited  here  — 
patients  suffering  from  the  direst  curse  that  can  fall  upon 
poor  humanity — will  ever  regret  the  small  proportionate 
share  he  pays  to  aid  this  noble  work. 

“I  rely  upon  the  willingness  of  the  State  to  carry  out  the 
philanthropic  enterprise  she  has  begun.  This  enterprise,  with 
others  of  a similar  character,  is  due,  in  great  measure,  to  the 
intelligence  of  our  people.  Our  system  of  common  schools, 
so  generously  sustained  from  the  earliest  period  of  our  history, 
has  contributed  largely  to  the  beneficence  of  this  great  charity. 
A philanthropy,  dictated  by  intelligence,  can  hardly  fail  of 
beneficial  results.” 

“ The  history  of  such  efforts  as  this,”  said  ex-Governor 
Hawley,  “is  frequently  marked  by  hesitating  grants  of  money 
through  a long  series  of  years,  amounting  to  double  or  treble 
the  sums  that  private  enterprise  would  expend  in  producing 
similar  results,  and,  by  favoritism  in  contracts  and  appoint- 
ments, useless  display,  general  extravagance,  and  even  fraud. 

“ More  cannot  be  asked  than  that  this  institution  shall  be 
as  free  in  the  future  as  it  has  been  in  the  past  from  such 
misfortunes,  errors,  and  crimes.” 

He  then  referred  to  the  “ wise,  prompt,  and  large-minded 
action  of  the  General  Assembly,”  and,  noting  the  fact  that  of 
the  seven  hundred  or  more  insane  patients  in  the  State,  of 
whom  only  a small  portion  could  be  accommodated  in  the 
Hartford  Retreat,  goes  on  to  add  : “And  there  are  more  than 
two  hundred  in  the  almshouses  of  the  towns,  where  it  is 
altogether  impossible  that  they  can  be  treated  as  common 
humanity  and  the  honor  of  the  State  require.”  “ The  moneys 


36 


expended  by  the  commonwealth  and  the  municipal  corpora- 
tions in  these  various  unsystematic  and  unsatisfactory  ways 
are  probably  sufficient,  when  concentrated  upon  this  institu- 
tion, to  take  proper  care  of  these  unfortunate  brothers  and 
sisters.  But  the  General  Assembly  made  no  attempt  to  avoid 
its  responsibilities.  It  made  no  nice  calculations  of  profit  and 
loss  in  dollars  and  cents,  though  it  would  be  easy  to  show  that 
that  State  makes  most  money  which  best  cares  for  the  destitute 
and  suffering .” 

No  words  of  ours  can  augment  the  force  or  heighten  the 
effect  of  the  stirring  and  impressive  language  of  these  quota- 
tions ; and  with  this  we  are  content  to  submit  the  whole  mat- 
ter to  the  wisdom  and  intelligence  of  your  honorable  body. 

We  append  the  Superintendent’s  report  for  the  past  year, 
with  his  estimates  for  completing  the  center  building  and 
north  wing;  also  a letter  from  Mr.  Hutton,  the  architect  of 
the  hospital,  in  regard  to  the  estimates.  The  statement 
which  this  gentleman  makes  should  have  great  weight,  as  the 
firm  to  which  he  belongs  has  had  an  extensive  experience  in 
buildings  of  this  character,  and  has  designed  and  superin- 
tended the  erection  of  most  of  the  more  recent  hospitals  in 
the  United  States. 

These  estimates  amount  to  $75,770,  which,  added  to  the 
debt  already  due  of  $41,614,  and  the  sum  borrowed  by  the 
trustees,  $30,000,  and  the  further  sum  needed  for  furniture, 
$15,000,  make  the  total  amount  required  $162,384. 

Besides  this  there  are  barns  and  fences  to  be  built,  grounds 
to  be  graded  and  laid  out,  stores  and  stock  to  be  purchased, 
and  many  other  things  to  be  done  for  which  no  precise  or  defi- 
nite estimate  can  be  made.  For  these  we  need,  and  most 
respectfully  ask,  an  additional  appropriation. 

That  the  work  may  not  stop,  and  the  valuable  time  that 
must  elapse  before  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  may  not  be 
lost,  the  board  of  trustees,  at  their  annual  meeting,  held 
April  8,  1868,  again  voted  unanimously  to  obligate  them- 
selves individually  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  funds  to  meet 
the  necessary  payments  and  expenditures. 


37 


MR.  HUTTON’S  LETTER. 

Philadelphia,  March  13,  1868. 

To  the  Board  of  Trustees, 

General  Hospital  for  Insane , Conn. 

Gentlemen  : — At  the  request  of  Dr.  Shew,  I have  examined  his 
estimates  for  the  completion  of  the  north  wing  and  center  build- 
ing of  the  new  structure  at  Middletown,  and  having  carefully 
compared  them  with  the  expenditure  involved  in  the  work  already 
done  am  ready  to  vouch  that  they  are  sufficient  to  put  the  same  in 
working  order.  His  exhibit  denotes  specifically  what  is  con- 
templated, and  with  the  same  energetic  and  careful  management 
that  has  characterized  last  year’s  operation,  the  figures  therein 
named  are  liberal  enough  to  do  well  all  that  is  proposed  to  be 
done. 

I cannot  let  this  opportunity  pass  without  the  statement,  that,  in 
all  my  observation,  I have  never  seen  a building  more  thoroughly 
well  built , nor,  in  view  of  this  fact,  with  greater  economy  Hoping 
that  your  efforts  to  complete  the  whole  will  meet  with  entire 
success  in  every  respect, 

I am  truly  yours, 

Addison  Hutton,  Architect. 


38 


Prom  the  West  Virginia  Hospital  report,  before  referred 
to,  we  copy  a tabular  statement  of  several  hospitals  for  the 
insane,  with  cost  of  building,  etc.,  remarking  only,  that  all 
these  were  built  before  the  late  war,  and  consequent  advent 
of  high  prices  ; and  it  would  be  a moderate  estimate  to  add 
now  fifty  per  cent,  to  the  prices  then  ruling : 


Name,  etc. 

Capacity. 

Cost. 

Cost  for  Pa- 
tient. 

New  York  State  Asylum,  Utica, 

440 

$517,400 

$1,185 

Maryland  Hospital,  Baltimore, 

130 

213,600 

1,443 

McLean  Asylum,  Somerville,  Mass.,. 

200 

321,000 

1,605 

Penn.  Hosp.  for  Insane,  Philadelphia, 
New  “ “ “ “ 

240 

330,000 

1,377 

250 

325,000 

1,300 

New  Jersey  Asvlum,  Trenton, 

250 

250,000 

1,000 

Maine  Hospital  for  Insane, 

175 

150,700 

861 

Mt.  Hope  Institution,  Baltimore, .... 

120 

200,000 

1,666 

Butler  Hospital,  Providence,  R.  I.,. . 

140 

116,000 

828 

Lunatic  Asylum,  Taunton,  Mass., . . . 

250 

250,000 

1,000 

Michigan  Hospital,  Kalamazoo, 

288 

340,000 

1,180 

Northampton  Hospital,  Mass 

250 

335,000 

1,340 

Iowa  State  Hospital,  Mt.  Pleasant,... 

250 

359,666 

1,440 

Average  coster  cap  ita  before  the  war, 
“ “ “ with  50  per 

— 

1,248 

cent,  added  for  increased  prices, 

since  the  war, 

— 

1,872 

Now  let  us  see  how  this  average  compares  with  the  ex- 
penditures already  made,  and  to  be  made,  upon  our  hospital. 
The  first  appropriation  by  the  State  was  . . $35,000 

“ second  “ “ “ . . 150,000 

Loan  from  the  trustees,  .....  30,000 

Funds  required  to  finish  center  building  and 

north  wing,  as  by  superintendent’s  estimate,  . 75,770 

For  furniture  for  center  and  north  wing,  . . 15,000 

Existing  indebtedness, 41,614 

Total,  . . . $347,384 


Multiply  the  above  average  of  $1,872  by  200  — the  num- 
ber of  patients  which  the  center  building,  and  north  and 


39 


south  wings,  when  finished,  will  accommodate  — and  the 
resulting  figures  are  $374,400  ; so  that  thus  far  the  cost 
of  our  hospital  has  been  within  the  average.  But  one  im- 
portant fact  must  be  kept  in  mind,  viz.,  that  our  institution 
was,  and  is,  designed  for  450,  instead  of  200  patients;  and 
that  all  the  out-buildings,  the  center  building,  and  their 
numerous  appointments,  were  planned,  and  have  been  con- 
structed and  provided  with  that  ulterior  view,  so  that  as 
a matter  of  fact,  the  edifice,  thus  far,  has  been  built  very 
economically  under  all  the  circumstances,  and  at  consider- 
ably less  than  the  average  arrived  at  by  the  above  table. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 


James  E.  English, 

H.  Sidney  Hayden, 
Leverett  E.  Pease, 

S.  G.  Willard, 

B.  W.  Tompkins, 

Wm.  B.  Casey, 

R.  S.  Fellowes, 
Curtiss  T.  Woodruff. 
Robbins  Battell, 
Benj.  Douglas, 
Julius  Hotchkiss, 
Joseph  Cummings, 


Fairfield  “ 
Litchfield  66 
Middletown . 


New  Haven . 
Hartford  County . 
Tolland  66 
Windham  “ 
New  London  u 
Middlesex  “ 
New  Haven  “ 


u 


Middletown,  April,  1868. 


EE  PORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


Gentlemen: — In  compliance  with  instructions  received 
from  the  board  at  its  last  meeting  in  March,  1867,  “to 
resume  work  whenever  the  season  should  permit,”  excava- 
tions were  begun  on  the  first  day  of  April  by  such  force  of 
workmen  as  could  be  advantageously  employed. 

SEWERAGE. 

Your  attention  was  early  directed  to  the  importance  of 
having  ample  provision  made  to  carry  off  the  surface  water 
during  the  construction  of  the  building.  By  your  direction, 
therefore,  an  eighteen-inch  cement  pipe  was  successfully  laid, 
during  the  month  of  April,  from  the  center  building  directly 
east,  a distance  of  one  thousand  feet,  with  a descent  three- 
sixteenths  of  an  inch  to  the  foot.  This  drain  pipe  is  abun- 
dantly adequate  to  carry  off  the  waste  water  from  the  laundry 
and  kitchen  and  the  bath  and  wash  rooms  of  the  whole 
building. 

CARPENTER  SHOP. 

At  the  same  time  masons  were  engaged  in  carrying  up  the 
walls  of  a permanent  two-story  stone  building,  twenty-seven 
feet  in  width  by  fifty -two  feet  in  length,  to  be  used  as  a car- 
penter and  work  shop.  The  first  story  of  this  building  has  a 
work  bench  extending  the  entire  length  of  one  side,  one  cir- 
cular saw  and  one  scroll  saw,  and  a large  grindstone.  In 
the  second  story  are  placed  three  benches  with  sufficient 
room  for  twelve  carpenters.  The  attic,  with  mansard  roof, 
makes  a most  convenient  paint  and  glazing  shop. 

The  motive  power  driving  the  machinery  alluded  to  is, 
water  from  our  dam  (described  below)  in  the  use  of  a six- 
inch  turbine  wheel,  manufactured  by  and  presented  to  the 


41 


institution  by  Mr.  Dwight  Cushman  of  Hartford  ; and  it 
gives  me  pleasure  to  mention  it,  that  this  wheel,  with  a 
power  adequate  to  all  the  mechanical  appliances  of  the  shop, 
has  been  eminently  successful  in  its  workings,  and  entirely 
without  repair  to  this  date. 

The  importance  of  the  early  erection  of  the  above  shop 
building  was  manifest,  .as  in  it  would  be  prepared  all  the 
wood-work  throughout  the  entire  hospital  edifice.  It  is  a 
permanent,  good  structure,  and  will  supply  to  convalescent 
patients  the  means  of  light  employment  to  their  great  advan- 
tage, and  therefore  to  the  profit  of  the  institution. 

DAM  AND  RESERVOIR. 

Early  in  April,  1867,  Mr.  George  H.  Norman,  with  whom 
a contract  had  been  made  for  a dam  and  appurtenances,  and 
for  the  providing  and  laying  of  necessary  pipe  to  convey 
water  to  the  building,  commenced  and  prosecuted  the  work 
with  vigor.  Six  thousand  five  hundred  feet  of  six-inch  cast- 
iron  pipe  were  laid  in  accordance  with  the  minute  specifica- 
tions of  the  contract  before  the  fifth  day  of  May,  thus  pro- 
viding a supply  of  water  for  mechanical  and  other  purposes 
during  the  entire  season. 

The  turbine  wheel  has  been  in  constant  use,  and  at  all 
times  more  water  has  passed  around  the  waste  canal  from 
the  reservoir,  than  was  used  on  the  grounds. 

EXCAVATIONS. 

Simultaneously  with  the  prosecution  of  the  work  heretofore 
mentioned,  laborers  were  employed  in  excavating  for  the 
foundations  of  the  main  buildings. 

In  order  to  render  this  portion  of  the  report  intelligible  to 
those  not  acquainted  with  the  practical  details  of  a work  of 
the  magnitude  of  your  hospital,  I would  state  that  in  excavat- 
ing for  foundations  and  cellars,  about  twelve  thousand  cubic 
yards  of  earth  were  removed  a distance  of  several  hundred 
feet.  The  soil,  consisting  principally  of  “hard  pan”  and 
gravel,  formed  at  all  points  an  unyielding  foundation  for  the 
heavy  walls  of  the  superstructure. 


42 


By  employing  an  adequate  force  of  masons,  and  by  work- 
ing over  hours  for  a few  days,  the  cellar  walls,  two  feet  eight 
inches  in  thickness,  and  seven  feet  six  inches  in  height,  were 
completed  previous  to  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  corner-stone 
on  the  twentieth  of  June. 

UNAVOIDABLE  DELAYS. 

During  the  months  of  July,  August,  and  September,  much 
embarrassment  and  delay  occurred  in  consequence  of  the  un- 
usual number  of  wet  days. 

To  those  having  the  grave  responsibility  of  the  building 
operations,  the  constantly  recurring  rains  and  showers  were 
a source  of  care  and  great  anxieties.  Incessant  forethought 
was  required  to  prevent  damage  to  the  walls  and  loss  of 
material  from  the  washing  of  mortar-beds  during  the  contin- 
uance of  sudden  storms. 

It  also  became  necessary  to  erect  temporary  sheds  under 
which  the  masons  and  stone-cutters  could  work  without  inter- 
ruption. 

To  those  who  are  not  practical  builders  these  hindrances  of 
weather  may  not  seem  as  important  as  they  really  are ; but 
when  it  is  considered  that  nearly  two  hundred  men  were  em- 
ployed, and  that  each  man  would  lose  from  five  to  ten  min- 
utes in  changing  from  scaffold  to  sheds,  it  must  be  evident 
that  the  aggregate  of  time  lost  amounted  to  a large  total. 

BUILDINGS  ENCLOSED. 

Notwithstanding  the  above  embarrassments  and  delays,  we 
succeeded  in  enclosing  the  center  building,  intermediate  and 
south  return  wing,  the  laundry,  and  the  boiler-house,  during 
the  season. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  CENTER  BUILDING. 

The  dimensions  of  the  center  building  are  sixty  feet  in 
width,  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  depth,  and  four  stories 
in  height.  The  walls  are  constructed  of  Portland  freestone, 
lain  in  broken  range  work,  two  feet  four  inches  in  thickness, 


43 


with  tool-dressed  quoins,  windowsills  and  caps,  water-table, 
belting  course  and  cornice,  surmounted  by  a “ French  roof” 
of  slate  and  tin. 

Inside  the  stone  wall  there  is  a four-inch  brick  lining,  leav- 
ing an  air  space  of  two  inches  between  it  and  the  stone, 
thereby  insuring  dryness. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  SOUTHERN  WING. 

The  southern  wing  is  forty  feet  in  width,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-four  feet  in  length,  and  three  stories  in  height,  with 
an  u L ” or  return  wing,  which  also  is  forty  feet  in  width, 
one  hundred  and  eight  feet  in  depth,  and  four  stories  in 
height.  The  walls  are  one  foot  eight  inches  in  thickness,  and 
have  a brick  lining  similar  to  that  described  in  the  center 
building.  The  corridor  and  partition  walls,  thirteen  inches 
in  thickness,  are  made  of  brick  with  an  air  space  of  five 
inches  in  the  center,  in  which  are  carried  up  all  the  hot  air 
and  ventilating  flues,  than  which  mode  none  can  be  more 
safe  from  the  danger  of  fire.  These  ventilating  flues  are 
supplied  by  air  forced  through  a passage  (seven  feet  in  height 
by  twelve  feet  in  width)  running  under  ground  from  rear  of 
boiler-house  into  the  cellar  of  center  building. 

The  interior  part  of  the  building  is  plain  but  substantial : 
the  wood  work  being  of  Georgia  yellow  pine,  oiled  and  var- 
nished. The  floors  are  lain  with  three  and  four  inch  matched 
stuff,  with  course  counter  floors  beneath. 

The  first  story  will  be  used  as  a ward  for  excited  patients. 
The  rooms  on  each  side  of  the  corridor  are  filled  with  inside 
window  shutters  hinged  and  locked.  Four  of  these  strong 
rooms  are  supplied  with  iron  closet-bowls,  and  a separate  hot 
air  flue  for  each. 

The  large  triple  windows  are  protected  in  this  story  by 
screen  partitions  of  wood  and  iron  pipe,  as  suggested  and 
adopted  by  Dr.  Nichols,  Superintendent  of  the  Government 
Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  in  the 
second  story  by  painted  iron  wire  screens. 

The  southern  wing  is  adapted  to  one  hundred  patients 


44 


divided  into  four  classes.  The  wards  consist  of  a corridor 
twelve  feet  in  width  and  height,  and  are  one  hundred  and 
twenty-four  feet  in  length,  with  a space  on  each  side  adjoin- 
ing the  center  building  for  light  and  air,  and  a large  triple 
window  at  the  south  end. 

The  “ L ” hall  in  the  south  return  wing  is  ten  feet  in  width, 
and  at  right  angles  with  the  corridor,  and  will  form  the  con- 
necting hall  with  the  extension  south  when  it  shall  be 
erected. 

Bach  ward  contains  one  dining-room,  one  day  or  reading- 
room,  two  “ associate  dormitories,”  for  four  and  six  patients, 
two  dumb-waiters,  one  dust-flue,  one  front  and  one  rear  hall 
and  stairways,  two  rooms  for  sick  patients  shut  off  by  a pas- 
sageway from  the  main  corridor,  eleven  single  rooms,  one 
clothes  room,  and  one  large  room  for  attendants. 

In  each  hall  there  is  a water-closet  and  wash-room  adjoin- 
ing the  bath-room.  The  water-closet  bowls  are  enameled 
cast-iron,  funnel  shape,  and  flushed  with  water  whenever  the 
door  is  opened,  by  a spring  attachment.  The  waste-pipe 
from  the  closet  and  “ slop-hopper,”  leads  to  the  main  soil- 
pipe,  and  this  having  a connection  with  a tall  chimney  of  the 
boiler-house,  as  hereafter  described,  completes  the  system  of 
“downward  ventilation.” 

In  the  wards  already  completed  there  are  four  cast-iron 
bath-tubs  of  the  approved  pattern  of  Messrs.  Morris,  Tasker  & 
Co.,  of  Philadelphia.  The  supply  of  hot  and  cold  water  and 
the  waste,  pass  through  one  opening  in  the  bottom. 

In  a vertical  flue  from  basement  to  upper  stories,  opening 
by  a door  in  each  bath-room,  is  a “pipe-closet”  connecting 
the  supply  of  hot  and  cold  water  with  each  bath-tub,  and 
accessible  only  to  the  attendant.  In  each  pipe-closet  is  a fire 
plug  with  a length  of  hose  permanently  attached  ; and  ad- 
joining this,  a steam  drying-room,  containing  coils  of  iron 
pipe  placed  under  a rack  upon  which  damp  clothing,  bedding, 
or  wash-rags  can  be  dried. 


45 


LAUNDRY. 

Referring  to  the  plan  accompanying  your  report,  it  will  be 
observed  that  the  laundry -building,  located  sixty  feet  in  the 
rear,  is  connected  by  an  underground  passage  with  the  center 
building,  in  which  passage  a tramway  will  be  placed  for  con- 
veniently conveying  clothing  and  bedding  to  and  from  the 
wards. 

The  first  story  of  the  laundry-building  is  divided  into  three 
large  rooms ; one  forty  feet  in  length  by  twenty  feet  in  width, 
will  be  used  as  a bakery  ; a room  opposite  of  same  size,  as  an 
ironing  and  folding  room.  The  washing  will  be  done  in  the 
rear  room,  fifty  feet  in  length  by  twenty  feet  in  width,  and 
will  contain  hydraulic  washers  of  Smith’s  patent,  made  by 
the  New  York  Laundry  Manufacturing  Company,  18  Dey 
street,  New  York,  with  stationary  tubs  and  steam-heated  dry. 
ing-closet.  The  second  story  is  divided  into  a large  sewing- 
room  (connected  with  the  ironing-room  below  by  a “ dumb 
waiter”),  one  linen  or  store-room,  and  six  sleeping-rooms 
for  female  employes. 

BOILER  HOUSE,  HEATING  APPARATUS,  AND  CHIMNEY. 

For  the  complete  protection  and  preservation  of  the  hospi- 
tal building  frem  danger  arising  from  the  fires  used  in  gen- 
erating steam  for  heating  purposes,  a two-story  stone  build- 
ing, sixty  feet  in  length  by  twenty  feet  in  width,  has  been 
erected  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  the  rear  of  the  hospital, 
for  the  boilers  and  various  fixtures  necessary  to  a steam- 
heating apparatus.  The  first  story  contains  the  boiler-room 
on  the  north  end,  and  a fitting  shop  on  th£  south  end.  The 
second  story  contains  four  rooms  for  male  employes,  and  one 
large  store-room  over  the  boilers.  From  the  center  of  this 
building  arises  a brick  chimney  eighty-four  feet  in  height, 
built  in  the  most  substantial  manner,  six  feet  internal  diame- 
ter, surmounted  by  a cast-iron  cap.  Two  large  flues  from 
the  main  sewer  open  into  the  smoke  stack,  perfecting  the  sys- 
tem of  u downward  ventilation.” 


46 


STEAM  HEATING. 

The  steam  used  during  the  winter  for  warming  the  hospi- 
tal has  been  generated  in  a tubular  boiler,  sixteen  feet  in 
length  by  four  feet  in  diameter,  and  conducted  through  a five- 
inch  wrought-iron  pipe  covered  with  felting,  to  the  cast-iron 
radiators  (Gold’s  patent),  placed  in  the-  cellar  corridor  or  air- 
duct  of  the  hospital  building. 

By  the  use  of  this  (Gold’s  patent)  apparatus,  put  up  in 
stacks  of  from  eight  to  twelve  radiators  in  each  box,  about 
sixteen  feet  apart,  the  apartments  are  severally  heated  in 
stories,  one  above  another. 

It  will  be  necessary  to  have  two  additional  boilers  of  sim- 
ilar dimensions  to  supply  heat  during  the  next  winter.  It  is 
supposed  that  three  boilers  will  be  adequate  for  the  purpose 
when  the  north  wing  is  occupied. 

The  heating  and  ventilation  are  to  be  effected  by  the  forc- 
ing of  a constant  current  of  pure  air  over  the  radiators, 
through  which  the  steam  circulates,  and  which  after  conden- 
sation, is  carried  back  in  a warm  state,  to  resupply  the  boiler. 

The  forcing  power  is  a fan,  twelve  feet  in  diameter,  placed 
in  the  rear  of  boiler-house,  as  before  mentioned,  and  kept  re- 
volving by  water ; and  a most  necessary  and  important  auxil- 
iary to  our  ventilating  system  in  summer  and  winter,  so  need- 
ful in  the  rooms  of  insane  patients. 

GAS. 

Daring  the  month  of  November  your  committee  made  ar- 
rangements with  the  Middletown  Gas  Light  Company  for  the 
laying  of  a main  pipe,  from  their  works  to  the  hospital,  at  the 
very  moderate  cost  of  one  thousand  dollars.  In  a large  insti- 
tution of  this  character  a very  important  advantage  of  illu- 
minating by  gas  over  other  modes  is  the  security  against  fire, 
and  also  economy  and  cleanliness  would  equally  recommend  it. 

RECAPITULATION. 

From  the  preceding  statement  of  work  done  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  past  year  has  been  one  of  constant  and  unremitting 
toil  to  those  having  charge  of  the  building  operations. 


47 


Only  twelve  months  have  been  consumed  in  erecting  and 
finishing  a series  of  buildings,  which  have  required  in  their 
construction  — 

Of  stone,  four  thousand  perch  (twenty-five  cubic  feet  to  the 
perch). 

Of  brick,  one  million  five  hundred  thousand. 

Of  lime,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  casks,  or  two  hundred 
and  seventy-five  tons. 

Of  S.  Y.  pine,  five  hundred  thousand  feet. 

Of  white  pine,  seventy  thousand  feet. 

Of  spruce,  eighty  thousand  feet. 

Of  hemlock,  fifteen  thousand  feet. 

Of  nails,  ninety  kegs,  or  four  and  one-half  tons. 

Of  roofing  slate,  twenty-five  thousand  square  feet. 

Of  iron  pipe,  fifteen  thousand  feet,  or  about  three  miles. 

Of  labor  of  men,  thirty-two  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven  days. 

Of  labor  of  horses,  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  days. 

To  arrange  for  the  need,  to  contract  for,  prepare  and  judi- 
ciously use  in  one  year  the  amount  of  material  here  tabulated, 
has  required  the  undivided  time  and  attention  of  those  hold- 
ing positions  of  trust  under  the  direction  of  your  board.  In 
this  connection  I cannot  refrain  from  alluding  to  the  fidelity 
of  those  whom  you  have  associated  with  me  in  this  great 
work. 

To  Messrs.  Hose,  Hubbard  & Galpin  is  due  an  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  valuable  services  which  they  have  respectively 
rendered. 

By  your  consent  and  authority,  contracts  were  at  various 
times  made  with  the  following  named  parties : 

Reservoir,  dam  and  connection  pipes  with  building,  one  and 
a quarter  miles : Geo.  H.  Norman,  Newport,  R.  I. 
Georgia  yellow  pine:  New  Haven  Steam  Saw  Mill  Co.,  New 
Haven,  Conn. 

Stone,  wall  and  dimensions  : Middlesex  Quarry  Co.,  Brainard 
& Co.,  and  Shaler  & Hall,  Portland,  Conn. 


48 


Lime,  cement,  nails,  and  glass:  Hubbard  Brothers,  Middle- 
town,  Conn. 

Brick  : Eugene  Strickland,  Middletown,  Conn. 

Iron  sash  : H.  A.  Converse  & Co.,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Wood  sash:  R.  Joslyn,  South  Manchester,  Conn. 

Roof  bolts : Plants’  Manufacturing  Co.,  Plantsville,  Conn. 
Roofing  slate : Cook,  Overfield  & Snedeker,  New  York. 

Tin  roof : B.  C.  Bacon,  Middletown,  Conn. 

Turbine  wheel  : Dwight  Cushman,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Steam  boiler  and  pump  : Pitkin,  Brother  & Co.,  Hartford, 
Conn. 

Steam  radiators  : H.  B.  Smith  & Co.,  Westfield,  Mass. 

Steam  and  gas  pipe  : H.  P.  Blair,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Bath  tubs  and  closet  bowls : Morris,  Tasker  & Co.,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 

Wrought-iron  window  guards:  Bancroft  & Co.,  Philadelphia. 
Coal:  White  & Loveland,  Middletown,  Conn. 

Doors  and  bedsteads : Hubbard  & Burrows,  Middletown,  Conn. 
Registers:  Tuttle  & Bailey  Manufacturing  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 
Locks  and  knobs : Mallory,  Wheeler  & Co.,  New  Haven,  Conn. 
Gas  fixtures  : Tucker  Manufacturing  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 

There  is  now  on  hand,  with  which  to  operate  this  season, 
of  cut  stone  about  one-third  of  the  amount  required,  and  of 
yellow  pine  for  joists,  etc.,  nearly  enough  to  complete  the 
northern  wing. 

The  estimates  of  last  year,  which,  being  unexpectedly 
called  for,  were  prepared  in  one  night  without  the  assistance 
of  the  architect,  have  failed  to  meet  the  requirements  of  your 
building,  owing  mainly  to  the  large  item  of  labor.  While  the 
act  creating  the  office  of  superintendent  makes  it  the  duty  of 
that  officer  to  procure  the  plan  and  personally  superintend 
the  erection  of  the  hospital  building  (which  you  are  aware  I 
have  done  to  the  extent  of  my  ability),  it  could  not  have 
been  intended  that  I should  be  wholly  responsible  for  the  cor- 
rectness of  all  the  estimates  of  the  details  of  the  building,  — a 
matter  out  of  the  range  of  the  usual  duties  of  a physician. 
The  estimates  offered  with  so  short  a time  for  mature  prepar- 


49 


ation  in  June  last,  were  known  by  all  those  who  had  the 
matter  more  immediately  under  their  notice  to  have  been 
prepared  under  pressure ; yet  they  were  believed  fully  by  me 
to  be  adequate  for  the  purposes  proposed,  except  so  far  as  a 
few  items,  not  very  materially  affecting  the  total,  were 
reduced  by  those  of  the  trustees  who  saw  the  draft.  I had 
no  expectation  of  the  estimates  being  printed  and  relied  upon 
as  absolutely  adequate,  and  as  if  they  were  the  conclusions  of 
experienced  builders.  I now  see  that  it  was  a grave  mistake 
not  to  have  taken  several  days  and  submitted  our  whole  calcu- 
lations and  value  of  materials  on  hand  to  your  architect  for 
an  authorized  opinion. 

By  your  direction  payments  have  been  made  as  far  as  the 
funds  would  permit.  All  the  outstanding  liabilities  on 
account  of  building  operations  amount  to  forty-one  thousand 
six  hundred  dollars  ($41,600)  as  per  tabulated  statement 
rendered. 

To  complete  the  center  building  and  northern  wing  and 
other  necessary  work  remaining  to  be  done,  and  to  meet  the 
debts  already  contracted,  the  further  sum  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-two  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty-four  ($162,384) 
dollars  will  be  required. 

The  hospital  farm  has  during  the  year  been  a source  of 
profit.  About  seven  hundred  dollars  were  received  for  pas- 
ture land,  and  about  fifty  tons  of  hay  cut  for  our  own  use. 
As  yet  nothing  has  been  attempted  in  the  way  of  laying  off 
and  ornamenting  the  grounds  for  the  patients,  a thing  highly 
important  with  all  institutions  for  the”  insane.  Nor  have 
enclosures  been  made  in  connection  with  the  building  for  the 
safety  and  increased  comfort  of  the  patients.  The  hope  is 
entertained  that  during  the  coming  season  much  may  be  done 
in  this  direction. 

Of  the  urgent  necessity  for  a hospital  in  Connecticut  many 
who  will  read  these  pages  are  fully  aware.  There  is,  however, 
a large  number  to  whose  mind  this  claim  presents  itself  as  of 
no  serious  and  positive  obligation.  I would  respectfully  and 
earnestly  urge  all  such  to  spend  one  single  day  in  visiting  the 
4 


50 


scenes  of  misery  found  wherever  the  insane  are  confined  in 
jails  or  almshouses. 

With  the  completion  of  your  hospital  on  its  original  plan, 
in  which  various  forms  of  innocent  recreation  are  to  be  pro- 
vided, much  of  this  suffering  and  misery  can  be  alleviated. 

Already  numerous  applications  for  admission  have  been 
received  from  all  parts  of  the  State,  showing  conclusively  that 
this  great  work  was  not  commenced  prematurely.  As  the 
number  of  patients  increases  the  cost  of  keeping  them  will  be 
proportionally  diminished, — the  expenses  of  heating,  lighting, 
cooking,  etc.,  not  being  much  greater  for  two  hundred  than 
for  one  hundred.  It  is  estimated  that  the  average  expense  of 
keeping  one  hundred  patients,  at  the  present  high  rate  of 
prices  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  will  be  four  and  one-half 
($4.50)  dollars  per  week.  This  includes  board,  washing, 
mending,  lodging,  medicine,  and  attendance,  and  various 
other  expenses  incident  to  the  curative  means  adopted  in  our 
practice. 

In  conclusion,  gentlemen,  I desire  to  express  my  grateful 
sense  of  obligation  for  the  encouragement  you  have  afforded 
me  amid  the  labors  and  anxieties  of  the  past  year.  With  an 
earnest  desire  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  institution,  and 
with  firm  resolution  to  insure  its  success  and  usefulness  in 
the  future  by  executing,  to  the  extent  of  my  ability,  your 
philanthropic  designs,  this  report  is  respectfully  submitted. 

A.  M.  SHEW,  Superintendent. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  April  1, 1868. 


51 


M.  B.  COPELAND,  Treasurer  General  Hospital  for  the  Insane, 
in  account  with  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

DR. 

To  amount  on  hand  April  1,  1867, $202.97 

“ balance  appropriation,  1866, ...  10,000 

“ amount  “ 1867, 150,000  00 

“ “ received  of  town  of  Middletown  on  account  of  dock 

and  work  on  road, 980  92 

“ amount  received  for  rent,  etc., 912.86 

“ “ borrowed  on  individual  notes  given  by  the  trustees,  28,964.38 

$191,061.12 


CR. 

By  salaries  of  officers $2,333.34 

“ land, 1,185.62 

“ stationery,  postage,  and  revenue  stamps, 259.04 

“ furniture,  fixtures,  and  safe. 253  85 

“ fuel  and  lights, 417.19 

“ lumber,  lime,  cement,  hair,  paints,  oil,  putty,  wood,  sash, 

and  doors, 25,485.37 

“ brick  and  sand, 8,714.41 

“ stone, 6,763.26 

“ slate,  lead,  sheathing,  and  putting  on  roof,  and  tinner’s  bill, 

roofing,  conductors,  and  putting  on, 5,294  78 

“ Trustees’ expenses  (traveling), 177.56 

“ Superintendent’s  board, 621.41 

“ iron  sash,  arch  plates,  work  on  sash  patterns,  shafting, 
blacksmitliing,  iron  beams,  lightning-rods,  blacksmith 

shop  and  tools,  roof  and  stage  bolts,  piping,  etc  , 4,131.38 

“ shovels,  hoes,  picks,  saws  and  saw  tables,  boring  machines, 

locks,  screws,  registers,  soil  pans,  etc., 926.59 

“ boiler,  steam  pump,  pipe  and  fittings,  radiators  and  hair  felt,  5,600.36 

“ horses,  wagons,  sleighs,  harnesses,  hay  and  feed,  mowing 

machine  and  rake, 3,039.18 

“ water-works  and  land  damages, 17,630.00 

“ transportation, 2,302.78 

“ pay  of  employes, 101,099.73 

“ Architect’s  accounts,  plans,  etc.,  sewer  pipe,  fence  postsand 
stage  poles,  dock,  derricks,  bell,  rent,  hose,  printing,  ad- 
vertising, insurance,  etc., 4,542  48 

44  amount, 282.79 


$191,061.12 

Middletown,  April  1,  1868. 

I hereby  certify  that  I have  examined  the  vouchers  and  accounts  of  the 
Treasurer,  of  which  the  above  is  an  abstract,  and  found  them  correct. 

BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS,  Auditor. 

Middletown,  April  22,  1868. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut : 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  General  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  of  this  State,  in  presenting  their  third  annual  report, 
beg  leave  respectfully  to  state  that  since  their  last  report  the 
north  wing  of  the  hospital,  designed  for  female  patients,  and 
the  center  or  main  building,  containing  the  offices,  apartments 
for  superintendent,  assistant  physician,  steward,  apothecary’s 
shop,  etc  , and  last,  but  not  least,  the  chapel,  have  been  nearly 
completed,  with  the  exception  of  the  latter.  A good  portion 
of  out-door  work,  such  as  grading,  stone-work,  etc.,  has 
been  done  ; but  for  the  details  of  all  this  we  would  respect- 
fully refer  your  honorable  body  to  the  report  of  the  superin- 
tendent, which  is  full  and  precise  in  its  details. 

The  funds  so  liberally  appropriated  to  the  institution  have 
been  expended  for  the  purposes  and  objects  set  forth  in  our 
last  annual  report. 

The  disbursements  for  current  expenses  and  building  oper- 
ations for  the  year  past  amount  to  $192,696.93.  The  bills 
and  vouchers  for  all  work  done,  articles  purchased,  salaries 
paid,  and  all  other  expenses  are  on  file  in  the  Comptroller’s 
cffice,  and  may  be  examined  by  any  one  interested  in  so 
doing. 

There  have  been  already  received  into  the  hospital,  of  all 
classes  and  both  sexes,  two  hundred  and  sixtv-eight  (268) 
patients,  of  whom  two  hundred  and  nine  (209)  remain.  Of 
these,  one  hundred  and  seven  (107)  are  males,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  two  (102)  are  females.  We  copy  these  statistics 
from  the  superintendent’s  report  simply  to  show  in  how  brief 
a period  all  the  available  apartments  of  the  institution  have 


53 


been  occupied,  and  how  important  it  will  be  for  the  State,  at 
no  distant  time,  to  extend  the  accommodations  of  the  hospital 
for  the  large  number  of  this  class  of  patients  who  still  remain 
unprovided  for.  All  the  central  arrangements  of  the  hospital 
were  designed  for  more  than  double  the  number  of  those  now 
enjoying  its  benefits,  and  the  cost  of  carrying  out  the  original 
plan  will  be  very  much  less  in  proportion  than  for  the  parts 
already  completed. 

Should  the  legislature  see  the  need  of  further  accommoda- 
tions, as  is  painfully  evident  to  the  trustees,  and  be  willing 
during  this  session  to  make  an  appropriation  for  this  object,  we 
ought  to  say  that  it  will  be  impracticable  to  make  use  of  much 
of  the  sum  appropriated  until  the  spring  of  1870,  although  it 
would  be  a great  advantage  to  the  State  for  the  trustees  to 
know  that  they  had  control  of  a sufficient  basis  upon  which 
to  make  contracts  for  work  to  be  begun  at  the  earliest  practi- 
cable time,  as,  with  the  models  already  erected,  contracts  can 
safely  be  made  with  responsible  parties. 

The  liberality  of  a few  gentlemen  has  provided  a reading- 
room,  library,  and  other  means  of  occupation  and  recreation ; 
and  so  with  regard  to  the  chapel,  private  benevolence  has 
gone  far  to  complete  this  highly  important  adjunct  to  a 
hospital  for  insane  persons.  To  the  same  sources  is  due  the 
possession  of  a fine  organ,  which  was  purchased  by  private 
donations. 

There  has  been  very  little  active  disease  among  the  patients 
during  the  past  year ; on  the  contrary,  owing  to  the  salubrity 
of  the  location,  the  abundant  supply  of  pure  water,  the 
absence  of  any  local  or  neighboring  causes  of  malarious 
disease,  in  addition  to  the  good  care  and  strict  attention  paid 
by  the  superintendent  and  his  assistant,  the  general  health 
of  the  inmates  has  been  unusually  good.  A few  deaths 
have  occurred,  for  the  causes  of  which  we  would  refer  to  the 
superintendent’s  report. 

Since  the  last  annual  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees, 
April  15,  1869,  the  number  in  the  hospital  is  226,  and  there 
are  on  file  and  waiting  for  admission  sixteen  applications. 


54 


In  regard  to  financial  matters,  as  already  stated,  the  entire 
amount  of  the  large  appropriation  made  by  the  General 
Assembly  at  its  last  session  has  been  expended,  and  there 
are  unpaid  bills  to  the  amount  of  $18,543.28.  We  regret 
that  this  should  be  so,  but  we  are  unable  to  see  how  the 
result  could  have  been  otherwise,  inasmuch  as  the  estimates 
for  the  amount  needed  to  complete  the  north  wing  and  center 
building  were  based  upon  the  experience  of  1867,  at  which 
time,  as  is  well  known,  mechanical  labor  of  all  kinds  was 
sixteen  per  cent,  lower  than  last  year.  This  unexpected 
advance,  which  could  not  have  been  foreseen,  caused  a 
difference  of  several  thousands  of  dollars  in  our  building 
expenses.  We  can  cordially  say,  that  the  superintendent 
has  been  most  anxious  and  remarkably  successful  in  his 
endeavors  to  reduce  the  expenditures,  and  conduct  the  busi- 
ness of  the  hospital  in  such  way  as  would  most  promote 
its  welfare,  and  the  best  interests  of  the  State,  and  we  most 
cheerfully  bear  our  testimony  to  his  untiring  zeal,  watchful- 
ness, and  exertion  in  behalf  of  the  great  public  charity  which 
is  placed  in  his  charge.  We  are  pleased  also  to  express  our 
satisfaction  with  the  efficient  and  faithful  manner  in  which 
the  assistant  physician  and  other  officers  have  discharged 
the  various  and  often  exhausting  duties  with  which  they 
have  been  entrusted. 

The  board  would  respectfully  recommend  to  the  legislature, 
that  the  law  of  the  State  in  relation  to  payments  by  the 
towns  be  so  amended  that  the  bills  of  the  hospital  for  the 
support  of  the  insane  poor  be  paid  quarterly,  in  advance, 
as  is  the  case  in  regard  to  “ indigent  ” and  private  patients. 

Referring  to  the  action  of  the  last  General  Assembly  in 
regard  to  providing  accommodations  “ as  soon  as  practi- 
cable” for  insane  convicts,  the  board  would  state,  that  owing 
to  want  of  funds  and  time,  no  special  or  distinct  provision 
has  been  made  for  this  class  of  patients.  Our  center  and 
north  buildings  were  not  finished  until  the  first  of  March; 
and  the  carpenter’s  shop,  which  the  trustees  had  thought  of 
remodeling  and  adapting  for  this  purpose,  was  in  constant 


55 


use  up  to  that  date,  at  which  time  our  funds  were  exhausted. 
Three  men  previously  discharged  from  State  Prison  have  been 
sent  here  from  the  towns,  two  of  whom  have  been  discharged 
from  the  hospital,  cured. 

The  increasing  wants  of  the  hospital  occasioned  by  the 
large  additions  to  its  family,  require  additional  facilities  for 
the  cultivation  and  preservation  of  the  products  of  the  farm 
thereto  attached.  It  is  proposed,  therefore,  to  develop  all  its 
capabilities  for  the  use  of  the  patients.  To  do  this  most 
economically,  a barn  sufficiently  large  to  provide  shelter  for 
stock,  tools,  and  implements,  storage  for  hay,  grain,  fruits, 
and  roots,  should  be  built.  Such  a building,  constructed  of 
wood  in  the  most  suitable  and  economical  manner,  is  esti- 
mated to  cost  about  $8,000.  We  think  it  ought  to  be 
generally  understood,  that  the  hospital,  aside  from  the  cost 
of  its  construction,  is  already,  with  less  than  two  hundred 
and  fifty  patients,  self-supporting;  and  that  an  increased 
number,  provided  there  were  any  room  or  accommodations 
for  them,  would  assure  this  condition  against  all  ordinary 
contingencies. 

The  thanks  of  the  board  are  due,  and  are  hereby  tendered, 
to  many  friends  — some  of  them  connected  with  the  press  — 
for  liberal  donations  of  books,  pictures,  and  papers.  All 
these  furnish  entertainment  and  occupation  to  the  patients  ; 
and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say,  that  they  sometimes  contribute 
in  no  inconsiderable  degree  to  the  grand  object  of  the 
hospital,  viz. , the  recovery  of  those  who  are  committed  to  its 
care.  The  names  of  these  benefactors  of  our  charge  will  be 
found  at  length  in  the  superintendent’s  report. 

In  conclusion,  the  board  of  trustees  would  congratulate  the 
legislature,  and  the  people  of  the  State  generally,  upon  the 
successful  results  of  this  noble  charity,  which  have  thus  far 
been  obtained.  Time,  in  its  onward  course,  will  confirm  and 
extend  these,  and  will  show  more  and  more  conclusively  the 
necessity  of  such  an  institution.  It  will  also  justify,  and 
more  than  justify,  the  liberal  and  enlightened  policy  which 
has  characterized  the  legislation  and  the  public  sentiment 


56 


of  Connecticut  for  four  years  past.  We  would  moreover 
express  the  fervent  hope  that  “ a work  begun  in  a spirit 
of  so  much  and  such  commendable  liberality,”  may  ever 
continue  to  enjoy  the  fostering  care  and  the  unwavering 
favor  and  protection  of  the  State  government.  Much,  very 
much,  has  been  done,  but  more  remains  to  do,  and  we  would 
therefore  respectfully  and  earnestly  invite  your  early  atten- 
tion to  the  subject  of  completing  the  hospital  in  accordance 
with  the  original  design. 

When  this  is  done,  and  the  whole  number  for  whom  this 
institution  was  intended  shall  be  accommodated,  there  will 
still  be  large  numbers  of  this  unfortunate  class  of  sufferers, 
for  whom  no  provision  will  have  been  made. 

We  have  the  honor  herewith  to  submit  our  report,  and 
with  it  that  of  the  superintendent  and  treasurer. 


Respectfully, 


JAMES  E.  ENGLISH, 
H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LEYERETT  E.  PEASE, 
S.  G.  WILLARD, 


Windham  “ 
New  London “ 
Middlesex  u 
New  Haven  u 


Hartford  County . 


New  Haven . 


Tolland 


B.  W.  TOMPKINS, 
WM.  B.  CASEY, 

R.  S.  PELLOWES, 


CURTIS  T.  WOODRUFF, 


Fairfield  u 
Litchfield  “ 
Middletown . 


ROBBINS  BATTELL, 
BENJ.  DOUGLAS, 


JULIUS  HOTCHKISS, 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS, 


u 


u 


Middletown,  April,  1868. 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


Gentlemen  : 

In  presenting  my  report  as  superintendent  of  the  State 
institution  under  your  care  for  the  year  now  past,  and  ending 
March  31,  1869,  it  may  be  well  to  consider,  first,  the  medical 
and  statistical  history  of  the  hospital  ; and  secondly,  the 
building  operations  of  the  past  twelve  months. 

Agreeably  to  the  promise  in  your  last  annual  report,  and 
to  the  announcements  published  in  all  Connecticut  daily  and 
weekly  papers  during  the  month  of  April,  the  hospital  was 
regularly  opened  for  the  admission  of  male  patients  on  Thurs- 
day, April  30,  1868,  just  thirteen  months  after  the  first  work 
was  begun  in  excavation  of  the  site. 

It  must  be  a source  of  gratification  to  those  philanthropic 
gentlemen,  who,  by  votes  in  the  General  Assembly,  and  by 
other  valuable  services,  have  been  instrumental  in  establish- 
ing, on  a liberal  scale,  a State  hospital  for  insane  of  all 
classes,  to  know  that  their  action  has  been  promptly  appre- 
ciated by  the  people  of  Connecticut,  as  shown  by  the  follow- 
ing record. 

There  have  been  admitted  during  the  eleven  months  to  this 
date,  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  (268)  patients ; one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  (165)  males,  and  one  hundred  and  three 
(103)  females. 

In  the  act  of  incorporation,  provision  is  made  for  three 
classes  of  patients : pauper,  indigent,  and  private ; one 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  (168)  pauper  patients,  seventy-six 
(76)  indigent  patients,  and  twenty-four  (24)  private  patients 
have  been  under  treatment.  Of  this  whole  number,  twenty- 
five  (25)  were  discharged  recovered,  eleven  (11)  were  dis- 
charged much  improved,  six  (6)  were  discharged  not 
improved,  two  (2)  were  found  to  be  not  insane,  and  of  course 


53 


immediately  sent  from  the  hospital,  and  fifteen  (15)  died, 
leaving  the  number  in  hospital  to-day  two  hundred  and  nine 
(209),  of  whom  one  hundred  and  seven  (107)  are  males,  and 
one  hundred  and  two  (102)  are  females.  It  has  been  the 
experience  of  all  new  State  institutions  of  the  kind,  that  its 
first  occupants  in  undue  proportion  are  aged  persons,  and  old 
chronic  cases,  and  death  are  unusually  frequent.  In  this 
respect  we  have  been  no  exception  to  the  rule. 


TABLE  SHOWING  THE  AGES  OF  ALL  CASES  ADMITTED. 


Under  20  years, 

Males. 

4 

Fem. 

1 

Total. 

8 

Between  20  and  30  years,  . 

. 38 

17 

55 

“ 30  and  40  “ 

. 40 

25 

65 

“ 40  and  50  “ 

. 31 

27 

58 

“ 50  and  60  “ 

. 23 

7 

30 

“ 60  and  70  “ 

. 18 

21 

39 

“ 70  and  80  “ 

6 

5 

11 

“ 80  and  90  “ 

2 

0 

2 

Total , 

. 165 

103 

268 

TABLE  SHOWING  DURATION  OF  INSANITY  PREVIOUS  TO 
ADMISSION. 


Males. 

Fem. 

Total. 

Less  than  3 months, 

. 36 

5 

41 

Between  3 and  6 months,  . 

. 11 

6 

17 

“ 6 and  12  “ 

. 12 

2 

14 

“ 1 and  2 years, 

. 13 

8 

21 

“ 2 and  5 “ 

. 26 

12 

38 

“ 5 and  10  “ 

. 19 

11 

30 

“ 10  and  20  “ 

. 22 

17 

39 

“ 20  and  30  “ 

.8 

3 

11 

Over  30  years, 

1 

7 

8 

Unknown,  . 

. 17 

32 

49 

Total, 

. 165 

103 

268 

From  these  tables  it  will  be  seen  that  little  hope  of 

recov- 

ery  can  be  entertained  respecting  a large  proportion  of  those 
already  admitted.  General  debility,  advanced  age,  and  long 
duration  of  disease  have  been  the  most  common  character- 
istics; twenty -two  aged,  paralyzed  patients  were  brought  to 
us  enfeebled  and  helpless  ; two  were  blind,  and  one  each  had 


59 


lost  a leg  and  an  arm.  As  the  hospital  wards  are  already 
filled  to  their  utmost  capacity,  and  several  applications  for 
admission  are  now  on  file,  I deem  it  but  just  to  inquire  what 
additional  provision  should  be  made  ? In  order  to  secure  to 
the  people  of  this  State  the  benefits  of  the  hospital  to  all  who 
need  its  care,  a large  extension  to  the  buildings  should  be 
made  at  the  earliest  practicable  day.  Recent  cases  of 
insanity  always  claim  the  first  attention,  and  should  be 
treated  as  promptly  as  those  suffering  from  any  other  acute 
disease.  Economical  considerations,  if  no  other,  dictate  the 
reasonableness  of  this  course.  The  experience  of  the  past 
fifty  years  proves  that  of  all  recent  cases  of  insanity  brought 
under  treatment  during  the  first  three  months,  eighteenths 
are  restored  to  health  and  reason  before  the  expiration  of 
the  year,  while  not  more  than  two-tenths  recover  when 
several  months  are  allowed  to  pass  before  the  patient  is 
placed  under  systematic  hospital  treatment.  Another  fact 
that  should  have  its  due  weight  in  estimating  the  value  of 
hospital  treatment  is,  that  patients  who  recover  after  a long 
period  of  insanity,  are  more  liable  to  a return  of  the  disease. 


TABLE  SHOWING  THE  NATIVITY  OF  THOSE  ADMITTED. 


Connecticut,  . 
New  York, 
Massachusetts, 
Rhode  Island, 
Virginia, 

North  Carolina, 

Pennsylvania, 

Vermont, 

New  Jersey,  . 

Ireland, 

Germany, 

Scotland, 

England, 

Cuba,  . 

Prussia, 

Unknown, 

Colored, 


Males.  Fem.  Total. 

96  50  146 

9 8 17 

3 1 4 

3 1 4 

1 1 2 

1 0 1 

1 0 1 

0 1 1 

0 1 1 

34  26  60 

5 2 7 

2 0 2 

1 3 4 

0 1 1 

0 2 2 

9 6 15 

3 0 3 

165  103 


Total, 


268 


60 


TABLE  SHOWING  CIVIL 

CONDITION  OF  THOSE 

Males. 

ADMITTED. 

Fem.  Total. 

Single, 

. 84 

34 

118 

Married, 

. 62 

32 

94 

Widowed, 

. 15 

18 

33 

Unknown, 

4 

19 

23 

Total, 

. 165 

103 

268 

TABLE  SHOWING  OCCUPATION  OF  MALE  PATIENTS 
ADMITTED. 


Farmers,  . 

. 45 

Shipcarpenter,  . 

. 1 

Laborers, 

. 18 

Sail  maker, 

. 1 

Machinists, 

. 7 

Carriage  maker, 

. 1 

Carpenters, 

. 6 

Student, 

. 1 

Sailors, 

. 5 

Telegraph  operator, 

. 1 

Mechanics, 

. 6 

Pilot, 

. 1 

Merchants, 

. 4 

Carman,  . 

. 1 

Shoemakers, 

. 4 

Blacksmith, 

. 1 

Clerks, 

. 4 

Knitter  of  Hosiery, 

. 1 

Harness  makers,  . 

. 3 

Druggist, 

. 1 

Quarrymen, 

. 3 

Cabinet  maker,  . 

. 1 

Sash  and  Blind  makers,  . 

. 2 

Lawyer, 

1 

Barbers,  . 

. 2 

Clergyman, 

. 1 

Tinsmiths, 

. 2 

Superintendent  of  Factory,  . 1 

Spinners,  . 

. 2 

Book  dealer, 

. 1 

Hostlers,  . 

. 2 

Pump  maker,  . 

. 1 

Landlord, 

. 1 

Ship  merchant, 

. 1 

Physician, 

. 1 

Moulder, 

. 1 

Tailor, 

1 

Printer,  . 

. 1 

Table-waiter, 

. 1 

Paper  maker, 

. 1 

Express  agent,  . 

. 1 

Foundryman, 

. 1 

Bookkeeper, 

. 1 

Wheelwright,  . 

. 1 

Manufacturer  of  silver  plate, 

. 1 

Currier,  . 

. 1 

Teacher,  . 

. 1 

Chemist, 

. 1 

Grocer,  . 

. 1 

No  employment, 

. 17 

Total, 


. 165 


TABLE  SHOWING  THE  SUPPOSED  CAUSE  OF  INSANITY  OF 


Intemperance, 

ALL  CASES  ADMITTED. 

Males. 
. 12 

Fem. 

0 

Total. 

12 

Over  exertion, 

4 

3 

7 

Epilepsy, 

5 

3 

8 

61 


Male. 

Fem 

Total. 

Exposure  while  in  the  army, 

3 

0 

0 

Religious  excitement, 

4 

2 

6 

Business  anxieties, 

2 

0 

2 

Death  of  friends, 

2 

0 

2 

Disappointed  affections, 

1 

4 

5 

Physical  injury, 

5 

4 

9 

111  health, 

2 

4 

6 

Spiritualism,  . 

1 

0 

1 

Hard  study,  . 

1 

0 

1 

Sunstroke, 

2 

0 

2 

Paralysis, 

2 

0 

2 

Typhoid  fever, 

1 

1 

2 

Inflammation  of  the  brain,  . 

1 

0 

1 

Hereditary  predisposition,  . 

24 

9 

33 

Syphilis, 

2 

0 

2 

Masturbation, 

11 

0 

11 

Puerperal, 

0 

4 

4 

Domestic  difficulties, 

0 

11 

11 

Fright, 

0 

1 

1 

Jealousy, 

0 

2 

2 

Unknown, 

80 

55 

135 

Total, 

105 

103 

268 

I report  the  admission 

of  two  patients  who  were  not 

insane : one,  an  idiot  boy  twelve  years  of 

age, 

was 

sent  by 

the  Judge  of  Probate  of  the  Waterbury  district,  under  a 
mistaken  impresssion  that  idiocy  forms  a phase  of  insanity. 
As  other  provision  has  been  made  by  the  State  for  the  recep- 
tion of  this  class  of  unfortunates,  and  as  injury  to  the  insane 
would  result  from  contact  with  a class  so  entirely  depressing 
in  its  influence,  the  boy  was  by  your  direction  discharged 
unconditionally,  although  he  remained  a few  weeks  in  the 
hospital,  waiting  for  his  friends  to  make  other  arrangements 
for  him. 

The  other  case  was  of  a nervous,  irritable,  quick,  good- 
tempered  man,  who  from  eccentric  habits  and  peculiar 
physique  might  easily  be  mistaken  for  an  insane  person. 
After  carefully  considering  the  facts  of  this  case,  and 
reporting  them  to  you,  he  was  by  your  direction  discharged, 
and  I learn  has  since  conducted  himself  in  a manner  to  fully 
justify  your  action. 


62 


The  general  health  of  the  patients  during  the  past  year  has 
been  remarkably  good.  No  deaths  have  occurred  as  results 
of  acute  or  endemic  disease,  and  while  epidemics  have  pre- 
vailed in  the  surrounding  districts,  we  may  report  immunity 
from  all  contagious  or  pestilential  affections.  This  happy 
result  is  largely  due  to  a new  building,  improved  methods  of 
ventilation,  and  an  abundant  supply  of  pure  spring  water. 

Of  the  fifteen  deaths  reported  during  the  year,  two  were 
from  paralysis.  One  of  these  received  spinal  injury  several 
years  ago,  while  working  on  the  dyke  at  Hartford,  since 
which  time  he  had  been  steadily  declining  until  death  relieved 
him  of  pain  and  suffering.  The  second  was  a well-marked 
case  of  reflex-paralysis,  a class  of  diseases  so  ably  described 
by  Dr.  S.  Weir  Mitchell  of  Philadelphia.  The  loss  of  motion 
followed  direct  inguinal  hernia  in  an  excitable  German,  aged 
sixty- five. 

Death  occurred  as  the  result  of  general  paresis,  in  three 
male  patients,  all  of  whom  had  the  characteristic  symptoms 
peculiar  to  this  insidious  disease.  One  was  the  proprietor  of 
a popular  inland  hotel  : his  delusions  were  of  an  exalted 
character  respecting  wealth  and  position.  During  the  last 
few  weeks  preceding  death,  his  imaginary  income  increased 
from  eight  hundred  to  eight  millions  of  dollars  per  day,  and 
he  would  make  the  most  lavish  promises  to  all  around  him. 
Another  strong  hallucination  that  all  of  the  patients  were  his 
sons  and  daughters,  continued  to  the  last.  Of  two  deaths 
from  senile  debility,  one,  aged  eighty,  was  brought  to  the 
hospital  in  a helpless  condition,  and  only  survived  forty 
days;  the  second,  aged  seventy-one,  came  covered  with  foul 
ulcers  ; his  delusions  were  of  an  exhilarating  nature,  and  up 
to  the  time  of  death,  which  occurred  forty-three  days  after 
admission,  he  was  always  found  by  attendants  and  physicians 
either  singing  or  whistling.  We  have  to  report  two  deaths 
from  tuberculosis,  an  unusually  small  proportion  of  the  num- 
ber of  insane  under  treatment. 

Epilepsy  was  the  cause  of  the  death  of  a young  man,  aged 
twenty-two.  While  under  treatment  the  convulsions  were 


63 


controlled  by  the  steady  and  persistent  use  of  bromide  of 
potassium. 

Death  from  exhaustion  caused  by  inanition,  occurred  in  a 
male  patient  aged  fifty-five  years.  Before  coming  to  the  hos- 
pital he  persistently  refused  food,  and  was  supported  by 
forced  alimentation.  I would  remark  that  we  have  two 
patients  at  the  present  time  who  have  been  artificially  nour- 
ished for  three  months. 

One  patient,  aged  forty-five,  was  brought  to  the  hospital  in 
an  unconscious  condition,  convulsed  tetanically,  who  survived 
five  days.  One  death  resulted  from  apoplexy.  A post- 
mortem examination  disclosed  blood  and  blood-clots  in  all 
the  ventricles.  I report  one  death  by  suicide  ; also  one  death 
by  violence.  The  facts  of  this  sad  case  are,  that  on  opening, 
at  the  early  hour  of  six  o’clock,  an  associate  dormitory  in  the 
female  department,  where  five  “ quiet  dements  ” had  been 
sleeping,  the  attendants  found  one  patient  in  a dying  condi- 
tion from  injuries  received  at  the  hands  of  a room-mate. 
She  died  in  about  five  hours  afterward.  The  regular  night- 
watchmen  had  been  his  rounds  only  a half-hour  before,  and 
found  all  quiet,  which,  with  other  circumstances,  goes  to  show 
that  the  violence  could  have  occurred  but  a short  time  previ- 
ously. A coroner’s  inquest  was  held,  and  a verdict  rendered 
in  accordance  with  the  facts. 

In  all  hospitals  for  the  insane  it  is  the  practice  to  group 
patients  of  certain  morbid  propensities.  It  is  the  result  of 
experience  that  they  exert  a salutary  check  on  each  other- 
Since  the  time  that  the  northern  wing  was  opened  on  the 
first  of  March,  the  female  patients  have  arrived  in  large  num- 
bers daily,  and  it  was  impracticable  to-have  immediate  knowl- 
edge of  each  particular  case.  The  patient  who  inflicted  the  in- 
jury has  the  appearance  of  being  entirely  inoffensive,  and  is 
unconscious  of  having  committed  the  dreadful  and  fatal 
deed. 

Up  to  the  present  time  the  means  of  affording  amusements 
to  convalescent  patients  have  been  limited,  owing  to  the  un- 
finished and  exposed  condition  of  the  grounds.  We  were 


64 


able  during  the  summer  months  to  have  walking-parties  of 
from  five  to  thirty  persons,  under  the  care  of  attendants,  on 
every  pleasant  day  ; others  have  engaged  in  field  and  garden 
labors,  while  some  have  chosen  more  exhilarating  sports,  as 
base  ball,  etc.  A much-needed  want  for  the  recreation  of 
patients  during  inclement  weather  was  supplied  by  the  liberal 
contributions  of  a few  gentlemen.  There  is  also  a library 
and  reading-room  always  open  to  patients,  with  about  three 
hundred  volumes,  gifts  of  benevolent  ladies  of  Middletown, 
to  whom  acknowledgments  are  made  on  another  page. 

Religious  services  have  been  held  every  Sabbath  afternoon 
at  three  o’clock,  much  to  the  advantage,  comfort,  and  benefit 
of  the  patients,  an  unusually  large  proportion  of  whom  have 
been  present  at  the  services.  Acknowledgments  are  due  to 
the  reverend  gentlemen  of  Middletown  and  surrounding 
places,  who  have  cheerfully  devoted  their  time  to  this  benevo- 
lent purpose. 

With  the  completion  of  the  plastering  and  flooring  of  our 
beautiful  chapel,  which  has  just  been  done  through  the  liber- 
ality of  two  of  your  number,  will  be  inaugurated  a series  of 
religious  and  intellectual  entertainments,  from  which  we  an- 
ticipate much  benefit. 

Early  in  the  year  I availed  myself  of  a rare  opportunity  to 
purchase  a fine  church  organ  at  a greatly  reduced  price,  and 
have  in  response  to  applications  made  to  personal  friends, 
and  others  who  feel  a deep  interest  in  this  institution,  re- 
ceived about  $1,000  of  the  $1,200  required  to  pay  for  the 
same.  Our  thanks  are  due  to  the  following  named  gentle- 
men who  have  contributed  to  this  praiseworthy  object: 


George  H.  Norman, 
Isaac  Anderson, 

Dr.  James  K.  Bates, 
Addison  Hutton, 

Hon.  Benjamin  Douglas, 
George  Gillum, 

Messrs.  Brainard  & Co , 
W.  T.  Gleason, 


Newport,  R.  I. 
New  Haven,  Conn. 
Watertown,  N.  Y. 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Middletown,  Conn. 
Portland,  Conn. 

it  u 

U it 


65 


H.  P.  Blair, 

Messrs  Hubbard  Bros., 

Messrs.  Barrows  & Hubbard, 

Messrs.  Southrnayd  & Gardiner, 

O.  Vincent  Coffin, 

Robert  G.  Pike, 

W.  S.  Camp, 

E.  F.  Sheldon, 

D.  W.  Camp, 

In  addition  to  this  useful  gift,  the  following  donations  have 
been  received  during  the  year : 

A fine  seven-octave  piano,  forty  valuable  books  and 
pamphlets,  and  one  hundred  dollars  to  purchase  books  for 
the  library,  from  Mrs.  S.  D.  Hubbard ; a complete  set  of 
Dickens’  works,  Globe  edition,  and  a number  of  green-house 
plants  from  Miss  Clarke ; two  large  engravings  from  Mrs. 
Benjamin  Douglas ; an  exquisitely  tinted  illumination, 
together  with  a number  of  books,  from  M.  B.  Copeland  ; a 
complete  set  (16  vols.)  of  the  New  American  Cyclopedia, 
published  by  D.  Appleton  & Co.,  New  York,  from  H.  L. 
Brainerd,  Haddam,  general  agent  for  Connecticut;  books 
and  plants  from  Miss  Tompkins;  two  engravings  from  E. 
Rockwell;  the  New  York  Daily  Sun , illustrated  magazines, 
papers  and  periodicals  from  C.  E.  Putnam ; fifty  Bibles  from 
the  Middletown  and  Vicinity  Bible  Society ; plants  in  pots 
from  Miss  Woodward ; valuable  specimens  for  the  museum 
from  Geo.  Stearns.  In  addition  to  the  above  a large  number 
of  interesting  books  have  been  received  from  Miss  Fanny 
Russell,  Miss  Mary  Roberts,  Miss  Mary  J.  Edwards,  Hon.  J. 
Hotchkiss,  R.  S.  Fellowes,  Dr.  Woodward,  Dr.  Casey,  Dr. 
Blake,  Wm.  S.  Camp,  and  from  three  other  persons,  whose 
names  were  not  obtained.  From  New  Haven,  we  have  two 
beautiful  hanging  baskets  for  the  wards,  the  gift  of  Mrs.  E. 
C.  Reed ; also  several  valuable  framed  pictures  from  R.  S. 
Fellowes,  who  also,  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  mention,  bore  the 
entire  expense  of  plastering  the  chapel,  at  a cost  of  about 
seven  hundred  dollars. 

5 


Hartford,  Corm. 
Middletown,  Conn. 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 


66 


Two  valuable  Spanish  fowls  were  presented  by  Samuel 
Jackson  of  Portland  ; two  fine  pigs  by  Dr.  Pliny  Earl, 
Superintendent  Northampton  Lunatic  Hospital,  and  J.  H. 
Tieman  of  New  York  has  supplied  us  gratuitously  with 
laundry  blue. 

We  are  under  obligations  to  the  newspaper  press  for  the 
subjoined  list  of  papers  received  during  the  year  : 

Hartford  Daily  Courant,  ....  Hartford,  Conn. 

“ Evening  Post,  . . . . “ “ 

“ Weekly  Times,  ....  “ “ 

The  Religious  Herald,  . . . . “ “ 

New  Haven  Evening  Register,  . . . New  Haven,  Conn. 

“ “ Daily  Palladium,  ...  “ “ “ 

Loomis’  Musical  Journal,  . . . . “ “ “ 

The  Constitution,  .....  Middletown,  “ 

Sentinel  and  Witness,  . . . . “ “ 

Norwich  Gazette,  .....  Norwich, 

“ Weekly  Courier,  . . . “ “ 

“ Daily  Advertiser,  . . . “ 

Norwalk  Weekly  Gazette,  . . . Norwalk,  “ 

New  London  Chronicle,  ..  . . . New  London,  “ 

Meriden  Daily  Republican,  . . . Meriden, 

Litchfield  Inquirer,  ....  Litchfield,  “ 

Winsted  Herald,  .....  Winsted,  “ 

Tolland  County  Journal,  ....  Rockville, 

BUILDING  OPERATIONS. 

Standing  at  this  point  which  is  removed  from  the  com- 
mencement by  a period  of  only  two  years,  we  can  now  report 
the  completion  of  the  hospital,  with  the  exceptions  hereafter 
named,  so  far  as  authorized  by  legislative  appropriations 

Referring  to  the  accompanying  plan,  it  will  be  seen  that  a 
center  building,  two  intermediate  and  two  return  wings  con- 
stitute the  main  building  ; in  the  rear  are  placed  the  laundry, 
boiler-house,  and  shops.  In  your  last  report  to  the  General 
Assembly  was  given  a detailed  description  of  the  southern 
wing.  As  the  northern  wings  have  been  finished  after  the 
same  general  plan,  with  but  minor  changes  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  rooms  and  appurtenances,  a repetition  of  the  descrip- 
tion would  be  superfluous  at  the  present  time;  it  only  remains 


G7 


for  me  now  to  direct  your  attention  to  the  center  building. 
The  dimensions  of  the  center  building  are  sixty  feet  in  width, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  depth,  and  four  stories  in 
height.  The  first  or  basement  floor  traversed  the  entire 
length  by  a hall  twelve  feet  in  width,  is  separated  into  one 
large  and  one  small  kitchen,  one  scullery,  two  dining-rooms, 
two  rooms  for  housekeeper  and  assistants,  one  store-room, 
and  two  rooms  with  closets  adjoining  for  steward’s  family. 
The  large  kitchen  is  furnished  with  a French  range  thirteen 
feet  in  length,  a steak-broiler,  two  eighty  and  four  forty-gal- 
lon iron  kettles,  and  two  twenty-gallon  copper-jacketed  coffee 
kettles,  all  of  which  were  manufactured  by  Messrs.  Bram- 
hall  & Dean  of  New  York. 

The  second  or  principal  story,  which  is  only  entered  from 
the  front,  contains  on  the  north  a room  for  the  meetings  of 
the  board  of  trustees,  a reception  room  for  female  patients, 
an  apothecary  shop,  and  apartment  for  the  assistant  physi- 
cian ; on  the  south  the  superintendent’s  office,  clerk’s  office, 
reception  room  for  male  patients,  and  matron’s  room.  One- 
half  of  the  third  floor  is  finished  as  a chapel,  which  is  forty- 
two  feet  in  width,  fifty-eight  feet  in  length,  and  twenty-two 
feet  in  height,  with  ceilings  arched  on  the  four  sides.  The 
superintendent’s  rooms  are  also  on  this  floor. 

The  fourth  or  Mansard  roof  story  contains  rooms  for  the 
domestics,  a bath,  and  four  spare  rooms.  Between  this  and 
the  roof  there  is  a large  attic,  which  may  at  some  future  time 
be  finished  for  an  amusement  hall. 

Agreeably  to  your  original  plan,  four  hydraulic  washing 
machines  of  Hamilton  E.  Smith’s  patent  were  placed  in  the 
laundry,  and  have  been  in  successful  operation,  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  During  the  month  of  August 
your  committee  contracted  for  a small  trunk  engine,  and  two 
wrought-iron  sectional  boilers,  manufactured  by  Messrs.  John 
B.  Root  & Co.,  of  New  York.  The  distinctive  advantages 
claimed  for  these  boilers  are  safety  from  destructive  explo- 
sion, highest  economy  of  fuel,  and  durability.  An  experience 
of  five  months  have  fully  justified  the  expectations  of  your 
committee  respecting  these  boilers. 


68 


In  the  month  of  July  a contract  was  entered  into  with  par- 
ties at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  to  furnish  planed  and  matched  white 
pine  boards,  with  which  to  form  our  permanent  inclosures. 
During  the  time  since  intervening,  this  material  has  been 
seasoning  and  is  now  in  fine  condition  to  be  used.  For  this 
purpose  the  sum  of  $2,000  will  be  needed.  Two  thousand 
dollars  ($2,000)  will  be  required  to  finish  and  furnish  the 
chapel  as  heretofore  described.  The  sum  of  two  thousand 
eight  hundred  dollars  ($2,800)  will  be  needed  to  complete 
the  small  porch  of  the  northern  wing,  and  the  main  porch  of 
the  center  building. 

In  response  to  your  report,  the  General  Assembly  promptly 
voted  the  sum  of  $200,000,  as  follows  : $41,000  to  pay  out- 

standing bills ; $50,000  to  cover  the  amount  previously  se- 
cured on  trustees’  notes ; $15,000  to  purchase  furniture,  and 
$94,000  to  finish  the  center  building,  northern  wings,  laundry 
and  boiler-house.  This  large  sum  has  been  wholly  expended, 
and  we  still  have  outstanding  liabilities  to  the  amount  of 
$18,543.28. 

LIST  OF  CREDITORS. 

Burrows  & Hubbard,  Middletown. 

New  York  Laundry  Manufacturing  Company. 

E.  K Bancroft  & Co.,  Philadelphia. 

John  B.  Root  & Co.,  New  York. 

I.  L.  Mott  Iron  Works,  New  York. 

U.  S.  Spring  Bed  Company,  Springfield. 

Tuttle  & Bailey  Manufacturing  Company,  New  York. 

Bowditcli  & Co.,  New  Haven. 

Mallory,  Wheeler  & Co.,  New  Haven. 

Morris,  Tasker  & Co.,  Philadelphia. 

Charles  Douglas,  Hartford. 

Burkett  & Ives,  Hartford. 

Talcott  & Post,  Hartford. 

II.  Woodward,  Middletown. 

B.  C.  Bacon,  Middletown. 

H.  B.  Smith  & Co.,  Westfield,  Mass. 

Slialer  & Hall  Quarry  Company,  Portland. 

Middlesex  “ “ “ 

Brainerd  & Co.  “ “ “ 

Hubbard  Brothers,  Middletown. 

H.  P.  Blair,  Hartford. 

Addison  Hutton,  Philadelphia. 


69 


To  you,  gentlemen,  who  are  familiar  with  all  the  details  of 
our  last  year’s  work,  I need  hardly  explain  why  there  should 
exist  any  discrepancy  between  the  estimates  and  the  actual 
results.  The  estimates  were  based  on  the  experience  of  1867, 
at  which  time  mechanical  labor  of  all  kinds  was  sixteen  per 
cent,  lower  than  during  the  past  year,  as  shown  by  vouchers 
at  this  office.  This  advance,  which  could  not  have  been  fore- 
told, caused  a difference  of  many  thousands  of  dollars  in  our 
building  expenses.  In  the  management  of  the  affairs  of  the 
institution  under  your  direction,  involving  the  expenditure  of 
so  large  a sum  of  money,  the  superintendent  has  endeavored 
to  conduct  his  business  so  that  in  all  things  the  interest  of 
the  State  should  be  carefully  guarded.  Believing  that  the 
hospital  was  not  started  to  build  up  any  particular  town  or 
district,  but  rather  that  the  interest  of  the  tax-payers  re- 
quired that  purchases  should  be  made  on  the  most  advan- 
tageous terms  possible,  he  has,  in  nearly  all  cases,  purchased 
at  wholesale,  in  open  market,  and  in  no  instance  has  a dol- 
lar of  the  public  money  been  expended  when  the  expenditure 
was  not  needed,  or  for  which  a full  equivalent  was  not 
received. 

The  disbursements  for  current  expenses  and  building  opera- 
tions for  the  fiscal  year  ending  March  31,  1869,  amounted  to 
one  hundred  and  ninety-two  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  dollars  and  ninety-three  cents  ($192,696.93). 


Salaries  of  officers,  ......  $4,081.87 

Pay  of  mechanics  and  laborers,  .....  62,191.76 

Pay  of  house  employes,  ......  5,284.78 

Stationery,  postage,  revenue  stamps,  and  blank  books,  . 449.14 

Furniture  and  fixtures,  . . . ...  . 16,426  62 

Fuel  and  lights,  .......  6,953.92 

Lumber,  lime,  cement,  hair,  paints,  oil,  putty,  wood,  sash,  and 

doors,  ........  27,444.70 

Stone,  brick,  and  sand,  ......  22,333.33 

Slate,  lead,  sheathing,  and  putting  on  roof,  tinner’s  bill,  roof- 
ing conductors,  and  putting  on,  . - . 4,478.88 

Trustees’  expenses  (traveling),  .....  156.02 

Superintendent’s  board,  ......  324.93 


70 


Iron  sash,  arch  plates,  work  on  sasli  patterns,  shafting,  black- 
smithing,  iron  beams,  lightning  rods,  roof  and  stage  bolts, 
piping,  etc.,  .......  $3,451.73 

Shovels,  hoes,  picks,  saws  and  saw-tables,  boring  machines, 

locks,  screws,  registers,  soil  pans,  etc.,  . . . 2,522.37 

Boiler,  steam  pump,  pipe  and  fittings,  radiator  and  hair  felt,  10,712  49 

Horses,  wagons,  sleighs,  harness,  hay  and  feed,  mowing 

machines  and  rake,  manure,  etc.,  ....  1,921.64 

Water- works,  . . . . . . 4,632.11 

Architects’  accounts,  plans,  etc.,  printing,  advertising,  insur- 
ance, etc.,  .......  1,909.71 

Bread  stuffs,  .......  2,887.67 

Meat,  fish,  and  eggs,  . . . . . .2,761.55 

Butter,  ........  2,147  33 

Groceries,  ........  2,391.54 

Clothing,  ........  1,011.70 

Live  stock,  .......  1,464.00 

Freight  and  transportation,  .....  3,465.54 

Drugs  and  medicines,  ......  369  05 

Undertaker’s  bill,  .......  161.75 

Miscellaneous  expenses,  traveling,  telegrams,  etc.,  . . 66180 


$192,696.93 

I would  respectfully  suggest  that  the  best  interests  of  the 
State  would  be  promoted  by  a change  of  the  law,  so  that  the 
bills  of  the  hospital  for  town  poor  be  paid  in  advance,  as  is  the 
case  of  indigent  and  private  patients. 

During  the  past  year  a small  part  of  the  hospital  land  has 
been  under  garden  cultivation,  producing  a considerable  quan- 
tity of  vegetables.  The  greater  portion  of  the  farm  was 
leased  to  the  former  owners  for  the  sum  of  $600,  while  we 
had  not  the  adequate  force  or  arrangements  to  till  it.  With 
the  present  large  additions  to  the  hospital  family,  and  the 
necessarily  increased  demand  for  milk  and  vegetables  of  all 
kinds,  it  will  now  be  advisable  to  cultivate  all  the  land  be- 
longing to  the  institution.  I earnestly  recommend  the  erec- 
tion of  a barn  large  enough  to  provide  shelter  for  stock,  stor- 
age for  hay,  grain,  and  roots  of  all  kinds  used  for  the  diet  of 
our  patients.  Economy,  as  well  as  necessity,  require  an  ad- 
ditional $8,000  for  this  purpose. 

Acknowledgments  are  due  to  the  officers  associated  with 


71 


me  in  this  great  public  charity  for  the  efficient  and  faithful 
manner  in  which  they  have  performed  the  duties  of  their 
several  positions. 

I should  also  be  derelict  to  duty  did  I not  in  closing  ex- 
press my  commendation  of  the  valuable  services  of  those  who 
are  employed  in  the  immediate  care  of  the  insane.  As  they 
have  to  bear  with  the  irritability  and  often  abusive  language 
of  the  patients,  their  duties  are  not  only  laborious,  but  pecu- 
liarly trying,  and  for  this  reason  they  are  deserving  of  far 
more  praise  then  they  generally  receive  from  the  public. 

Permit  me  in  conclusion  to  express  my  grateful  sense  of 
obligation  to  the  members  of  the  board  for  their  oft  experi- 
enced counsels  and  confidences  in  these  laborious  and  respon- 
sible duties.  Relying  upon  their  ready  assistance  in  the 
future,  and  with  unfaltering  trust  in  a Divine  Providence,  I 
look  forward  with  hope  to  the  duties  of  another  year. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

A.  M.  SHEW,  Superintendent . 
Middletown,  Conn.,  March  31, 1869. 


72 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 

The  following  statement  of  the  fiscal  concerns  of  the  General  Hospital 
for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  for  the  year  commencing  April 
1,  1868,  and  ending  March  31,  1869,  is  respectfully  submitted  to  the  board 
of  trustees  : 

RECEIPTS. 


Balance  in  the  treasurer’s  hands  April  1,  1868,  . . $282  79 

Amount  borrowed  on  individual  notes  given  by  the  trustees,  20,000.00 
Appropriation  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  . . . 200,000.00 

Interest  allowed  on  the  anticipated  payment  of  the  $50,000 

notes  given  by  the  trustees,  ....  207  41 

Revenue  account  from  the  hospital,  ....  16,777.71 


$287,267.91 

PAYMENTS 


Amount  of  individual  notes  given  by  the  trustees, 
Interest  paid  on  notes  given  by  trustees, 

Amount  of  superintendent’s  orders, 

Balance  in  the  treasurer’s  hands,  March  81,  1869, 


$50,000.00 
328.61 
185,914.99 
1,029  31 


$237,267.91 


All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 

M.  B.  COPELAND,  Treasurer . 


Middletown,  Conn.,  March  31,  1869. 


I hereby  certify  that  I have  examined  the  vouchers  and  accounts  of  the 
treasurer,  of  which  the  above  is  an  extract,  and  found  them  correct. 

JULIUS  HOTCHKISS,  Auditor . 


Middletown,  April  28,  1869, 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut : 

The  trustees  of  the  General  Hospital  for  the  Insane 
make  to  your  honorable  body  the  fourth  annual  report  of  the 
institution  under  their  charge. 

The  annexed  report  of  the  superintendent,  with  tables  of 
statistical  details,  presents  clearly  the  history  of  the  hospital 
for  the  year  ending  31st  of  March,  and  the  accompanying  re- 
port of  the  treasurer  shows  the  financial  condition  of  the  in- 
stitution at  that  date. 

From  the  report  of  the  superintendent  will  be  seen  the 
pressing  need  of  more  rooms  to  accommodate  the  insane  of 
this  State. 

The  extension  of  the  building  in  two  wings,  according  to 
original  approved  plans,  which  have  been  presented  to  the 
legislature  in  lithographs  in  previous  reports,  and  are  again 
copied  in  this,  would  furnish  the  needed  room. 

An  additional  report,  with  full  particulars  of  cost  of  such 
extension,  may  be  brought  to  your  notice  during  the  session. 

The  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  institution,  both 
medical  and  economical,  has  been  satisfactory.  We  are 
gratified  to  commend  the  faithfulness  and  efficiency  of  those 
in  official  positions. 

We  are  called  to  record  the  first  breach  in  our  number  by 
death.  Wm.  B.  Casey,  M.D.,  late  member  of  this  board  for 
Middlesex  county,  died  in  the  latter  part  of  March.  Dr. 
Casey  was  intimately  connected  with  all  of  the  measures  of 
locating,  building,  and  organizing  the  hospital.  His  warm 
interest  in  the  work  and  useful  counsels  will  long  be 
remembered. 


74 


We  regret  to  mention  that  our  associate,  Rev.  Curtiss  T. 
Woodruff,  member  for  Fairfield  county,  has  removed  from 
the  State.  Mr.  Woodruff  has  been  indefatigable  in  his  duties 
as  trustee,  and  has  faithfully  acted  from  the  beginning  of  the 
work  as  secretary  of  the  board.  He  has  been  present  tit 
nearly  every  meeting,  inspiring  all  with  his  own  cheerful 
energy. 

In  order  to  profit  by  the  lowest  prices  of  the  markets  in 
the  very  considerable  purchases  required  for  so  large  an  in- 
stitution, it  is  needful  to  buy  with  ready  cash.  To  do  this, 
and  thus  to  keep  the  commercial  credit  of  the  State  hospital 
at  the  highest  point,  several  of  the  trustees  united  to  provide 
a cash  capital  of  $25,000,  which  sum  was  borrowed  on  the 
notes  of  individuals,  members  of  the  board,  for  the  uses  of 
the  hospital,  from  two  savings  banks  in  Middletown.  The 
advantage  of  such  a money  provision  will  be  evident  to  all. 

A finance  committee,  compose  of  members  from  Middle- 
town,  meet  monthly,  or  oftener,  to  order  supplies  and  direct 
payments  of  all  moneys. 

Your  trustees  respectfully  recommend  that  a law  be  passed 
ordering  payments  in  advance , by  the  State,  for  the  State’s 
proportion  of  the  amounts  paid  for  board,  etc.,  of  pauper  and 
indigent  patients,  and  also  by  the  towns  for  their  proportions 
for  town  paupers.  Payment  in  advance  is  already  required 
bylaw  from  friends  of  indigent  patients  for  their  proportions, 
and  also  from  private  patients.  It  sometimes  happens  that 
bills  for  board  at  the  end  of  the  quarters  are  not  promptly 
met.  When  several  small  sums  are  thus  withheld,  the  aggre- 
gate forms  an  amount  which  it  is  inconvenient  for  a new  in- 
stitution like  ours  to  be  kept  out  of. 

The  places  on  the  board  made  vacant  by  the  decease  of  the 
member  for  Middlesex  county,  and  by  the  resignation  of  the 
member  for  Fairfield  county,  need  to  be  filled  by  the  legisla- 
ture. 


75 


The  terras  of  service  of  the  member  for  New  London 


county  and  of  the  member  for  Windham  county  expire  with 
this  year.  We  respectfully  ask  that  they  be  re-chosen. 


MARSHALL  JEWELL, 
S.  G.  WILLARD, 

J.  TRACY, 

R.  S.  FELLOWES, 


Hartford. 

New  London  County. 
Windham  “ 

New  Haven  “ 


CURTISS  T.  WOODRUFF,  Fairfield 
ROBBINS  BATTELL,  Litchfield 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN,  Hartford 

L.  3.  FULLER,  Tolland 


BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS,  \ 

JULIUS  HOTCHKISS,  \ Middletown. 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS,  ) 


April,  1870. 


REPOET  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


Gentlemen  : 

I have  the  honor  herewith  to  make  to  you  the  annual 
report  of  patients  admitted  and  discharged  at  this  hospital, 
and  to  present  statistical  tables,  beginning  March  31,  1869, 
and  ending  April  1,  1870. 

This  period  embraces  the  first  entire  year  of  systematic 
classification  and  treatment  of  both  sexes  in  the  two  wings 
of  the  institution,  and  has  terminated  in  a manner  to  awaken 
renewed  thankfulness  and  gratitude  to  Almighty  God.  The 
general  health  of  the  officers,  employes,  and  patients  has  been 
remarkably  good ; neither  epidemic  or  endemic  disease  has 
affected  us,  and  we  can  report  immunity  from  any  case  of 
suicide  or  homicide.  The  number  of  persons  benefited  by 
treatment  in  the  institution  has  steadily  increased ; its  use- 
fulness in  the  community  has  perceptibly  extended,  and  by  a 
careful  system  of  economy,  the  hospital  has  met  its  ordinary 
expenses,  leading  its  officers  to  believe  that  the  low  price  of 
board  established  by  you  is  one  which  will  not  need  to  be 
changed  for  a long  time.  All  the  bills  of  the  institution  to 
1st  of  April  have  been  paid.  Its  only  obligation  is  to  a num- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees,  who  joined  in  providing  a certain 
sum  or  capital  to  furnish  means  for  cash  purchases. 

At  the  date  of  the  last  report  there  were  remaining  two 
hundred  and  nine  (209)  patients,  of  whom  one  hundred  and 
seven  (107)  were  males  and  one  hundred  and  two  (102)  were 
females. 

There  have  been  admitted  during  the  twelve  months  to 
this  date,  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  (134)  patients;  seventy- 
eight  (78)  males  and  fifty-six  (56)  females. 

Of  this  whole  number,  three  hundred  and  forty-three  (343), 


77 


forty-three  (43)  were  discharged  recovered,  eighteen  (18) 
were  discharged  much  improved,  twenty-seven  (27)  were  dis- 
charged not  improved,  twenty-one  (21)  died,  and  two  were 
found  not  to  be  insane,  leaving  the  number  in  hospital  to-day 
two  hundred  and  thirty-two  (232),  of  whom  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  (114)  are  males  and  one  hundred  and  eighteen  (118) 
are  females.  The  daily  average  during  the  year  is  *^25.27. 
Of  the  three  classes  for  whom  provision  is  made  in  the  act  of 
incorporation  there  are  at  present  one  hundred  and  sixty-five 
(165)  pauper  patients,  fifty-seven  (57)  indigent  patients, 
and  ten  (10)  private  patients.  In  accordance  with  the  spirit 
of  the  law  regulating  admissions,  the  superintendent  is 
bound  to  act  impartially  in  receiving  all  classes,  irrespective 
of  condition,  giving  always  preference  to  persons  in  the  order 
of  application.  This  just  rule  has  in  a few  instances  been  a 
source  of  trial  to  the  officers,  and  of  disappointment,  as  well 
as  extra  expense,  to  town  authorities. 

No  one  can  regret  more  than  the  officers  of  the  hospital  its 
inability  to  receive  all  from  the  State  who  apply  to  this  State 
institution.  The  demand  for  increase  of  accommodation  is 
daily  felt  to  be  a pressing  one.  On  the  31st  of  March  there 
were  sixty-two  (62)  applications  on  our  files  for  admission 
which  could  not  be  received  from  mere  want  of  sleeping-room, 
and  we  know  of  many  who  would  apply  if  there  were  a 
chance  of  their  getting  in.  We  are  in  the  condition  of  a 
railroad  company  in  possession  of  a good  track,  sufficient 
locomotives,  well-built  stations,  and  some  cars,*  but  not  enough 
to  carry  all  the  passengers  who  apply.  As  in  the  case  sup- 
posed, only  car-room  is  needed;  so  in  our  case  only  chamber- 
room  is  needed. 

We  have,  as  you  know,  kitchen  accommodations  and  head- 
ing and  water  power  enough,  and  all  the  organization  and 
auxiliaries  for  five  hundred  patients,  but  room  only  for  a 
few  over  two  hundred.  That  I do  not  overstate  the  probable 
number  requiring  places  in  your  hospital,  let  me  say  that  by 
the  New  York  State  Commissioner’s  report  there  ought  to  be 
in  this  State  one  insane  person  to  every  four  hundred  and 


78 


fifty  of  the  inhabitants.  With  a population  of  six  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  inhabitants,  this  estimate  would  occasion 
the  need  of  accommodations  in  the  State  of  Connecticut  for 
over  fourteen  hundred  insane.  By  the  calculations  of  other 
States,  the  number  would  be  thirteen  hundred  patients. 
But  taking  only  one  thousand  as  our  calculation  for  the 
number  in  this  State,  we  now  have  room  for  two  hundred 
and  thirty.  In  the  excellent  Hartford  Retreat,  under  the 
superintendency  of  that  able  veteran  in  this  specialty,  Dr. 
Butler,  there  are  rooms  for  one  hundred  and  fifty,  leaving 
more  than  six  hundred  unprovided  for.  How  long  the  pros- 
perous State  of  Connecticut  will  be  willing  to  allow  this  dis- 
proportion between  the  numbers  demanding  aid  of  the  hospi- 
tals and  the  room  accommodations  provided,  the  General 
Assembly  will  wisely  judge. 

Experience  shows  that  treatment  in  early  stages  of  the 
disease  is  attended  with  success  in  a majority  of  cases,  while 
only  a small  proportion  are  restored  to  health  and  reason 
when  several  months  are  allowed  to  elapse  before  the  patient 
receives  systematic  hospital  treatment.  Your  superintendent 
has  repeatedly  been  obliged  to  delay  the  admission  of  persons 
in  this  early  stage  of  insanity,  from  one  to  three  months, 
because  the  hospital  wards  were  already  crowded  to  their 
utmost  capacity.  As  is  the  case  with  all  newly-opened  State 
institutions,  this  hospital  forms  no  exception  in  having  a 
large  proportion  of  aged  persons, — old  chronic  cases,  who 
will  probably  require  the  care  of  this  or  a similar  institution 
during  their  remaining  lifetime.  Chronic  cases  often  require 
the  most  attention,  and  when  at  large  are  the  most  annoying 
to  the  public.  This  is  especially  true  of  cases  of  periodical 
insanity  and  epileptic  mania. 

During  the  year  past  a few  cases  of  temporary  insanity, 
resulting  from  improper  use  of  alcoholic  stimulants,  have 
been  sent  to  the  hospital  by  legal  authority.  These  persons 
are  not,  in  the  general  acceptation  of  the  term,  insane ; but, 
as  they  require  some  form  of  restraint,  for  their  own  good  as 
well  as  that  of  their  friends  and  the  public,  and  as  the  State 


79 


lias  not  made  a separate  provision  for  them,  the  officers  of 
this  hospital  have  felt  obliged  to  admit  all  such  in  the  regular- 
order  of  application. 

Twenty-one  deaths  occurred  during  the  year.  There  were 
in  April  three  (3),  in  May  one  (1),  in  June  one  (1),  in  July 
three  (3),  in  August  three  (3),  in  October  two  (2),  in 
November  four  (4),  in  February  three  (3),  and  in  March 
one  (1).  Thus  the  number  of  deaths  during  the  year  equals 
6 1-8  per  cent,  of  the  whole  number  under  treatment.  The 
disproportion  of  deaths  between  the  sexes  is  noticeable,  as 
only  three  have  occurred  among  the  women,  the  average 
number  of  whom  in  the  hospital  exceeds  that  of  the  men. 

In  the  cases  that  have  terminated  fatally,  we  observe  an 
undue  proportion  of  deaths  soon  after  admission.  The  ex- 
citement of  removals,  and  the  fatigue  of  journeyings,  etc.,  are 
often  prejudicial  to  insane  patients.  It  is  a matter  of  deep- 
est importance  that  discrimination  on  the  part  of  those  who 
remove  patients  to  the  hospital  be  conscientiously,  calmly,  and 
wisely  exercised.  In  deciding  when  to  send,  the  judgment  of 
a physician  should  always  be  obtained  by  friends  and  officials. 
This  precaution  would  often  prolong  the  lives  of  those  whom 
they  seek  to  benefit. 

During  the  year  one  man,  aged  seventy,  was  brought  to  the 
hospital  soon  after  an  apopletic  attack,  and  survived  but  two 
days.  Another,  with  the  same  serious  disease,  lived  only 
six  days.  A third,  aged  thirty-six,  exhausted  by  acute 
mania,  died  on  the  sixth  day  after  admission.  Had  this  case 
been  brought  earlier,  the  probability  is  that  the  disease  would 
by  treatment  have  been  arrested  ; but  he  should  not  have  been 
removed  at  the  time  he  was.  Another,  aged  sixty-nine,  hav- 
ing wearied  out  the  attentions  of  friends,  was  brought  to 
live  with  us  only  seven  days.  And  another,  aged  forty-five, 
sent  under  legal  authority  when  nearly  worn  away  by  acute 
pain,  the  result  of  schirrhus  of  the  pylorus,  survived  twelve 
days.  The  last  of  this  class,  aged  sixty-seven,  exhausted  by 
chronic  mania,  and  confined  to  his  bed  from  the  day  of  admis- 
sion, died  in  two  weeks. 


80 


I firmly  believe  that  in  all  of  these  cases  the  excitement 
and  fatigue  resulting  from  the  journey  to  the  hospital,  not 
only  hastened  the  time  of  death,  but  also  destroyed  whatever 
hope  of  recovery  there  may  have  been.  It  seems  as  though 
the  anxiety  of  friends  and  common  sense  would  suggest  to 
thoughtful  persons  the  importance  of  rest  and  quietness  in 
such  a condition  of  the  disease,  and  prevent  any  removals  in 
such  crises. 

Of  the  other  fifteen  deaths,  two  were  the  result  of  phthisis, 
two  of  general  paresis,  two  of  exhaustion  of  chronic  mania, 
and  one  each  of  pneumonia,  carbuncle,  debility,  inanition, 
cerebral  effusion,  senile  decay,  and  strangulation  in  an 
epileptic  paroxysm. 

In  this  connection  I ought,  perhaps,  to  state  a fact  not 
sufficiently  understood,  that  in  the  treatment  of  mental  dis- 
orders little  reliance  is  placed  on  the  action  of  drugs.  The 
prevailing  favorable  influence  in  the  treatment  of  insane  per- 
sons consists  in  removal  from  the  influences  previously 
surrounding  them  at  home  which  may  been  active  in  causing 
the  disease.  Attempts  of  friends  at  control  tend  only  to 
increase  the  inherent  sense  of  arbitrariness  while  in  the 
accustomed  rooms  and  home.  A powerful  maniac,  who  has 
been  the  terror  of  family  and  community,  will  ordinarily 
quietly  submit  to  the  rules  of  an  institution,  and  be  guided 
and  influenced  by  a kind  word  from  an  intelligent  attendant 
who  is  an  entire  stranger.  The  earlier  in  the  disease  that 
this  change  is  made,  the  greater  are  the  chances  of  speedy 
and  permanent  recovery.  The  very  fact  of  being  a stranger 
among  others  having  each  peculiar  delusions  and  habits, 
awakens  new  trains  of  thought  and  feelings,  which  end  in  a 
kind  of  self-examination  and  self-control  with  subsequent 
improvement.  I have  repeatedly  been  told  by  patients  who 
had  recovered,  that  their  first  consciousness  of  deviation 
from  a supposed  sane  condition,  was  induced  by  comparisons 
of  themselves  with  the  insane  companions  in  the  wards. 
Apprehensions  generally  entertained  by  the  inexperienced, 
that  a mild  case  of  derangement  would  be  intensified  by  con- 


81 


tact  with  a large  number  similarly  affected,  is  not  confirmed 
in  experience.  On  the  contrary,  in  well-regulated  hospitals, 
where  attention  is  given  to  the  classification  of  patients, 
to  regularity  in  exercise,  eating,  sleeping,  and  amusements, 
beneficial  changes  are  often  soon  recognized  by  the  patients 
themselves,  indicating  that  restoration  to  health  has  begun. 

In  these  progressive  stages  of  convalescence,  too  much 
praise  can  hardly  be  awarded  to  competent  attendants,  who 
act  the  part  of  friends,  directing  and  encouraging  the  feeble 
intellect  by  kind  and  gentle  acts,  even  when  at  first  coldly 
received  and  perhaps  unappreciated  for  months.  It  is 
during  this  stage  that  patients  need  to  have  their  minds 
diverted  and  occupied  by  various  amusements,  or  by  light 
employments,  chosen  wisely  to  meet  their  characters.  Our 
institution  as  yet  is  able  to  offer  but  few  of  the  recreative 
amusements  or  employments  possessed  by  older  hospitals. 

In  the  last  report  of  the  “ Pennsylvania  Hospital  for  the 
Insane,”  at  Philadelphia,  an  institution  erected  and  sup- 
ported by  Christian  benevolence,  without  the  aid  of  the 
commonwealth,  mention  is  made,  that  “ the  pleasure  grounds, 
embracing  at  the  two  departments  almost  one  hundred  acres 
of  beautifully  undulating  land,  with  their  fine  trees  and 
various  improvements,  and  having  nearly  four  miles  of 
carriage-drives  and  as  much  brick  or  board  walks,  are 
invaluable  as  adjuncts  in  the  proper,  managements  of  an 
institution  for  the  insane,  and  scarcely  any,  no  , matter  what 
may  have  been  their  mental  or  physical  condition,  have  ever 
been  here  for  any  length  of  time  without  deriving  positive 
benefit  from  their  regular  and  daily  use.” 

In  addition  to  the  above  outdoor  attractions,  much  has 
been  done  by  Dr.  Kirkbride  within  the  past  few  years  to 
afford  varied  evening  and  indoor  entertainments.  A large 
hall,  adapted  for  lectures,  concerts  and  gymnastic  exercises, 
was  provided  mainly  by  the  managers,  at  a cost  of  several 
thousands  of  dollars,  and  is  in  constant  use.  A large  stock 
of  photographic  pictures,  engravings,  paintings,  museum 
articles,  books,  and  games,  with  billiard  rooms  and  bowling 
6 


82 


alleys,  are  the  improved  methods  and  appliances  used  in 
restoring  to  health  this  unfortunate  class  of  afflicted  hu- 
manity. Other  hospitals  than  the  one  mentioned  are  now 
adopting  these  useful  accessories  to  medical  treatment. 

We  are  encouraged  with  the  progress  made  during  the 
past  twelve  months  in  our  own  building  and  grounds.  The 
number  of  books  has  much  increased  and  the  engravings, 
photographs,  and  lithographs  which  enliven  our  halls,  speak 
of  the  friendly  interest  of  generous  citizens  of  this  and  other 
cities  of  this  State.  Beautiful  plants,  a fern-case  and  three 
aquaria  attract  patients,  as  they  enter  halls  which  are  per- 
haps to  be  occupied  by  them  as  their  homes  for  months.  A 
few  games  of  harmless  nature  are  provided,  and  the  billiard- 
room  invites  those  who  are  sufficiently  restored  to  under- 
stand and  enjoy  the  play.  One  evening  each  week  is  devoted 
to  music  and  social  enjoyments,  participated  in  by  patients 
and  attendants  under  the  direction  of  the  officers.  During 
the  winter,  some  friends,  amateur  performers,  kindly  fur- 
nished several  vocal  and  instrumental  concerts.  Our  ac- 
knowledgments for  these  are  formally  made  in  another 
place. 

On  the  evening  of  the  24th  December,  our  beautiful  chapel 
was  decorated  tastefully.  The  exercises,  at  which  were 
present  more  than  two  hundred  of  our  patients,  consisted  in 
the  reading  of  poetry,  music,  and  in  the  distribution  of 
presents  from  a Christmas-tree  which  had  been  prepared  for 
the  occasion.  A more  extended  programme  of  lectures,  con- 
certs, and  amusements  has  been  prepared  for  the  coming 
year,  and  it  is  hoped  that  our  means  for  a liberal  increase  in 
this  direction  may  increase  from  year  to  year. 

Satisfactory  progress  in  completing  a variety  of  unfinished 
work,  which,  owing  to  want  of  funds,  remained  over  from 
the  previous  year,  has  been  made.  At  the  head  of  this  list 
in  the  order  of  importance,  stands  the  chapel.  This  room, 
forty-four  feet  in  width,  fifty-seven  feet  in  length,  and 
twenty-two  feet  in  height,  was  finished  and  furnished  with 
the  necessary  furniture  and  fixtures,  and  it  is  all  that  could 


83 


be  desired  as  an  audience  room.  Before  its  completion, 
weekly  religious  services  were  held  in  one  of  the  halls  occu- 
pied by  patients  ; but  since,  the  chapel  has  been  regularly  used 
on  the  Sabbath,  to  the  advantage  and  comfort  of  our  patients. 
Acknowledgments  are  gratefully  and  sincerely  due  to  the 
reverend  gentlemen  of  Middletown  and  vicinity,  who  have 
cheerfully  and  regularly  conducted  the  services  during  the 
year. 

In  my  last  report  your  attention  was  directed  to  the  im- 
portance of  making  provision  for  the  protection  of  our  stock 
and  preservation  of  the  farm  products.  Economy  and 
necessity  combined  to  require  an  additional  appropriation 
for  this  purpose  of  eight  thousand  dollars,  which  was 
promptly  voted  by  the  last  General  Assembly.  In  August 
last,  plans  and  specifications  were  procured,  and  contracts 
entered  into  with  responsible  parties  to  furnish  timber  and 
other  building  materials,  and  the  building  begun  with  pros- 
pect of  early  completion,  but  an  unavoidable  delay  of  six 
weeks  was  caused  by  the  severe  storm  in  October,  which,  it 
will  be  remembered,  occasioned  much  damage  and  an  unpre- 
cedented flood  through  the  Connecticut  valley.  Owing  to 
this  unexpected  casualty,  the  contractor  was  hindered  in  the 
work  until  late  in  the  autumn.  By  employing  a large  gang 
of  men,  with  his  personal  supervision,  he  completed  the  barn 
in  a satisfactory  manner  during  January. 

The  barn  is  situated  on  a slope  two  thousand  feet  in  the 
rear  of  the  hospital,  and  has  a sub-cellar  for  pigs  and  manure, 
a commodious,  well  sheltered,  and  ventilated  cellar  (three 
sides  above  ground)  to  accommodate  about  forty  cows,  and  a 
superstructure  of  wood  fifty-six  feet  in  width,  ninety  feet  in 
length,  and  twenty-three  feet  in  height,  for  the  storage  of 
hay,  grain,  and  farming  implements. 

Owing  to  the  exposed  condition  of  our  grounds  surround- 
ing the  hospital,  much  annoyance  has  been  experienced ; but 
an  early  completion  of  the  permanent  inclosures,  which  were 
commenced  and  nearly  finished  during  the  last  season,  will 
obviate  this  and  secure  to  patients  the  desired  seclu- 


84 


sion.  With  this  needed  protection  we  expect  to  allow  all  of 
our  patients  the  freedom  of  the  grounds  much  of  the  time 
during  the  pleasant  months  of  the  year. 

Ample  space  for  exercise  is  afforded  to  the  most  excitable 
patients,  in  two  large  yards  which  have  been  inclosed  in 
connection  with  the  lower  halls. 

In  the  month  of  August  a contract  was  made  for  the  com- 
pletion of  the  main  porch  of  the  center  building  and  of  the 
small  porch  of  the  north  wing. 

Our  farmer,  Mr.  Clinton  B.  Weatherbee,  has  had  under 
cultivation  the  larger  part  of  the  hospital  farm,  which,  with 
the  pastures  and  meadows,  has  produced  a total  of  products 
valued  at  five  thousand  dollars,  and  of  which  a list  is 
appended : 


Hay, 

88  tons. 

Lettuce, 

Corn  fodder  (say), 

10  “ 

Beets,  green, 

18  bushels. 

Corn, 

300  bushels. 

Melons, 

500  lbs. 

Potatoes, 

1,450 

( c 

Winter  squash, 

3 tons. 

Carrots, 

125 

c t 

Pumpkins, 

4 “ 

Beets, 

36 

< t 

Radishes, 

200  bunches. 

Onions, 

13 

a 

Cabbage, 

252  heads. 

Turnips, 

300 

(t 

Peaches, 

1 bushel. 

Parsnips, 

15 

( c 

Pears, 

7 “ 

Beans,  white, 

n 

tt 

Apples, 

21  “ 

“ string, 

26 

t < 

Celery, 

1,000  lbs. 

“ pole, 

28 

it 

Yeal, 

120  “ 

Peas, 

18 

tc 

Pork, 

4,434  “ 

Sweet  corn, 

188 

1 1 

Eggs, 

657  doz. 

Cucumbers, 

26 

tt 

Chickens, 

325  lbs. 

Tomatoes, 

42 

tt 

Milk  (grass  made), 

11,648  quarts. 

Summer  squash, 

100 

1 1 

Mr.  Weatherbee  reports  the  weight  of  the  hogs  butchered,  as  follows  : 
279,  500,  312,  300,  300,  406,  360,  311,  341,  305,  250,  270,  601;  total,  4,434 
pounds. 

Aside  from  the  actual  cash  value  of  these  products,  oppor- 
tunity for  labor  has  been  afforded  to  some  of  our  patients,  and 
has  been  of  substantial  benefit  to  a number  of  convalescents 
who  have  found  healthful  employment  during  the  summer 
months.  I mention  particularly  the  instance  of  a nervous, 
excitable  monomaniac,  who  chafed  under  the  usual  restraints 


85 


of  hospital  life,  but  was  comparatively  quiet,  contented,  and 
happy  when  allowed  the  freedom  of  the  farm. 

This  is  one  of  the  practical  and  incidental  benefits  of  farm 
work  in  hygienic  treatment.  It  is  doubted  whether  the  labor 
of  the  insane  can  be  made  pecuniarily  profitable.  Experi- 
ence thus  far  shows  that  a small  proportion  only  of  the  entire 
number  are  physically  strong  enough  to  endure  continuous 
manual  labor. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 


We  are  under  renewed  obligations  to  the  newspaper  press 
for  the  subjoined  list  of  papers  received  during  the  year : 


Hartford  Daily  Courant, 

“ “ Post,  .... 

“ Weekly  Times, 

The  Religious  Herald, 

Conn.  General  Advertiser,  . 

New  Haven  Evening  Register,  . 

Morning  Journal  & Courier, 
Weekly  Palladium, 

Loomis’s  Musical  Journal, 
Watson’s  Art  Journal, 

The  Constitution,  .... 
Sentinel  and  Witness,  .... 
Norwich  Daily  Advertiser,  . 

“ Weekly  Courier,  . 

Norwalk  Weekly  Gazette,  . 

Meriden  Daily  Republican, 

Tolland  County  Journal, 

The  Winsted  Herald,  .... 
The  Spirit  of  Missions, 

Forney’s  Weekly  Press, 

Litchfield  Inquirer,  .... 


Hartford,  Conn. 


New  Haven,  Conn. 


Middletown,  Conn. 

( c ii 

Norwich,  “ 

1 1 a 

Norwalk,  “ 

Meriden,  “ 

Rockville,  “ 

Winsted,  “ 

New  York,  N.  Y. 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Litchfield,  Conn. 


If  those  having  the  control  of  newspapers  in  our  State 
could  see  how  eagerly  these  daily  and  weekly  visitors  are 
looked  for,  and  how  much  they  do  to  promote  the  comfort 
and  welfare  of  our  patients,  it  would  not  be  necessary  for 
me  to  appeal  for  their  assistance. 

It  is  a source  of  gratification  to  the  superintendent  to 
report  an  increasing  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  public  to 
manifest  their  interest  in  this  benevolent  work,  by  contribu- 


86 


tions  of  various  kinds  for  the  wants  of  the  patients.  During 
the  year  we  have  received  many  tokens  of  this  kind  : seventy- 
five  dollars  to  purchase  books  for  the  library  from  u a lady 
friend  ” ; a beautiful  rustic  stand  and  basket  of  plants  from 
Mr.  Wm.  E.  Hubbert;  four  trees  from  Prof.  Johnston ; plants 
and  flowers  from  Miss  Tompkins;  also  from  Miss  Payne; 
five  dollars  and  a steel  engraving  in  gilt  frame  entitled,  u Old 
Age,”  from  Mrs.  Samuel  C.  Hubbard ; a fine  large  engraving 
from  Mr.  W.  W.  Wilcox;  three  large  engravings  from  Mr. 
R.  L.  de  Zerig;  one  hundred  lithographs  from  that  untiring 
friend  of  the  insane,  Miss  Dix;  twelve  exquisitely  tinted 
chromos  from  Mr.  Addison  Hutton  of  Philadelphia,  Pa. ; a 
complete  set  of  croquet  from  Mr.  Samuel  C.  Hubbard ; a 
barrel  of  apples  and  twelve  quarts  of  whortleberries  from 
Mr.  William  S.  Camp;  one  black  walnut  writing-desk  from 
Mr.  E.  F.  Sheldon  ; one  large  aquarium  from  Mr.  Benjamin 
Douglas;  agricultural  reports  from  T.  S.  Gold,  Esq.,  Secre- 
tary of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture;  fifty  Bibles  from  the 
Middletown  and  vicinity  Bible  Society;  fifty  prayer  books 
from  the  New  York  Bible  and  Prayer  Book  Society,  through 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Thorne,  many  valuable  reports  and  medical 
works  from  Dr.  John  R.  Lea  of  Hartford;  religious  papers 
from  Mr.  J.  J.  Whitney  of  Winsted. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  a large  number  of  interesting 
books,  papers,  magazines,  and  games  have  been  received 
from  Miss  Mary  Roberts,  Miss  Russell,  Prof.  D.  C.  Gilman, 
Mrs.  Fellows,  Mr.  A.  M.  Smith,  and  Mr.  Birge;  from  Mr.  C. 
E.  Putnam,  the  New  York  Daily  Sun,  illustrated  maga- 
zines, papers,  and  periodicals. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Samuel  C.  Hubbard,  and  to  a 
number  of  ladies  of  Middletown,  for  the  strawberry  festival 
enjoyed  by  our  patients  on  the  afternoon  of  July  3d  ; to  the 
Wesleyan  University  Glee  Club  for  a delightful  vocal  concert; 
and  to  Mr.  Parsons  and  friends  of  New  Britain  for  a pleas- 
ant evening  entertainment. 

The  institution  is  also  under  deep  obligations  to  the  resi- 
dent officers  for  their  continued  and  efficient  services  during 


87 


another  year.  Without  their  zealous  co-operation  the  super- 
intendent would  be  unable  to  properly  execute  your  philan- 
thropic designs. 

The  attendants  and  other  employes  whose  duties  are  at  all 
times  laborious  and  peculiarly  trying,  deserve  special  men- 
tion, and  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  speak  thus  favorably  of 
nearly  all  who  have  been  with  us  during  the  year. 

In  behalf  of  those  who  are  incapable  of  expressing  their 
obligation  to  your  board  for  the  continued  interest  you  have 
manifested  in  their  welfare,  I acknowledge  their  indebted- 
ness, while  I thank  you  for  the  support  which  you  have  given 
the  superintendent  and  other  officers  in  administering  the 
affairs  of  this  noble  charity.  A.  M.  SHEW, 

Superintendent . 

Middletown,  Conn.,  March  31st,  1870. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  : 

The  trustees  of  the  general  hospital  for  the  insane  would 
respectfully  present  to  your  honorable  body  their  fifth  annual 
report. 

During  the  year  past,  by  the  divine  blessing,  the  institu- 
tion under  their  care  has  been  quietly,  steadily,  and  very 
successfully  performing  the  work  for  which  it  is  chartered. 

The  report  of  the  superintendent,  giving  careful  and 
minute  statements  of  the  interior  affairs  of  the  hospital,  is 
herewith  submitted. 

High  praise  is  due  to  him  and  to  his  assistants  for  their 
kind,  skillful,  and  conscientious  performance  of  the  laborious, 
difficult,  and  very  responsible  duties  of  their  offices.  They 
have  succeeded  admirably  in  carry  out  the  design  of  making 
this,  in  every  respect,  a first-class  institution. 

The  report  of  the  treasurer  to  the  trustees  is  also  appended. 
It  shows  the  finances  of  the  hospital  to  be  in  good  condition. 
The  income  has  been  sufficient  to  meet  the  current  expenses. 

The  trustees  have  met  quarterly  and  by  committee  much 
oftener.  A portion  of  the  resident  trustees  have  made 
monthly  visits  to  the  hospital  to  examine  its  finances,  inspect 
the  premises,  and  consult  with  the  superintendent  for  its 
general  interests. 

The  abundant  produce  of  the  farm,  which  has  been  well 
cared  for,  lias  added  largely  to  the  health  and  comfort  of 
the  patients. 

A high  board  fence,  much  needed  to  protect  the  grounds 
near  the  hospital  from  intrusion,  as  also  the  patients  from 
strolling  visitors  and  idlers,  has  been  in  part  constructed.  Its 
completion  has  been  delayed  by  the  strenuous  opposition  of 
certain  interested  persons,  who  have  thus  far  prevented  the 


89 


fulfillment  of  the  pledge,  which  was  made  to  the  trustees 
before  they  located  the  buildings  and  secured  by  vote  of  the 
town  of  Middletown,  by  which  a street  little  used  and  run- 
ning across  the  hospital  property  between  the  main  buildings 
and  the  barn  was  closed.  Much  inconvenience  and  trouble 
have  resulted. 

In  the  last  annual  report  it  was  said,  uIn  order  to  profit  by 
the  lowest  prices  of  the  markets  in  the  very  considerable 
purchases  required  for  so  large  an  institution  it  is  needful  to 
buy  with  ready  cash.  To  do  this,  and  thus  to  keep  the  com- 
mercial credit  of  the  State  hospital  at  the  highest  point, 
several  of  the  trustees  united  to  provide  a cash  capital  of 
$25,000 ; which  sum  was  borrowed  on  the  notes  of  individ- 
uals, members  of  the  board,  for  the  uses  of  the  hospital, 
from  two  savings  banks  in  Middletown.  The  advantage  of 
such  a money  provision  will  be  evident  to  all. 

By  authority  conferred  by  the  legislature  of  1870  the 
trustees  have  sold,  for  thirty- five  hundred  dollars,  to  the 
Valley  Railroad  Company  and  to  the  town,  of  Middletown, 
the  right  of  way  through  the  part  of  the  hospital  farm  bor- 
dering on  the  river  ; five  hundred  of  which  were  appropriated 
to  build  fences  thereby  made  necessary,  and  three  thousand 
towards  paying  the  twenty-five  thousand  borrowed  last  year. 

The  number  of  patients  constantly  in  the  hospital  crowd 
it  to  its  utmost.  There  are  now  registered  seventy-four 
applications  for  admission,  in  behalf  of  persons  needing  the 
benefit  of  its  treatment,  some  of  whom,  though  in  a suffering 
condition,  must  wait  their  turn  till  the  eyes  of  their  friends 
are  weary  with  watching,  and  their  hearts  are  sick  through 
hope  deferred.  Patients  who  should  have  found  at 
once  a place  here,  because  there  was  no  room  for  them  have 
been  carried  out  of  the  State  to  Northampton  and  Brattle- 
boro,  until  those  institutions  can  receive  no  more.  In  some 
other  cases  the  cost  of  securing  proper  care  elsewhere  has 
been  consuming  the  substance  of  the  fatherless. 

Numerous  painful  facts,  which  have  come  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  trustees,  confirm  the  propriety  of  humane  action  of 


90 


the  several  legislatures,  which  since  1805  have  legislated  for 
the  benefit  of  the  citizens  of  Connecticut  who  might  suffer 
the  ills  of  a mind  diseased. 

They  acted  with  a wise  regard  to  economy  in  founding  and 
fostering  this  institution,  since  early  attention  secured  the 
restoration  to  health  of  a large  number  of  insane  persons, 
who  would  become  incurables  if  neglected.  But  there  is 
pressing  and  sorrowful  necessity  that  the  building  should  be 
enlarged  according  to  the  original  plan,  at  the  earliest  prac- 
ticable day. 

The  experience  of  the  past  thirty  years  affords  reasonable 
ground  for  the  belief  that  the  number  of  persons  in  the 
State  needing  treatment  for  insanity,  for  a long  time  to 
come,  will  increase  year  by  year.  That  number  is  already 
so  great  that  the  hospital,  if  enlarged  by  two  wings,  would 
have  none  too  much  room  for  their  accommodation. 

In  order  to  do  all  that  was  possible,  with  present  means, 
for  the  poor,  for  whom  at  most  there  is  sufficient  room,  during 
the  year,  in  receiving  applicants,  patients  of  that  class  have 
had  the  preference.  This  condition  of  things  is  a hardship 
to  persons  of  moderate  means,  who  need  the  benefits  of 
hospital  treatment,  but  are  neither  paupers  nor  indigent. 

The  remedy  is  in  the  hands  of  the  legislature.  The  prop- 
erty-holders of  the  State  have  cheerfully  paid  for  an  institu- 
tion of  great  utility  and  value ; but  it  is  yet  incomplete  and 
there  is  not  enough  room  for  all  the  town  and  State  patients. 
Most  of  those,  who  have  been  taxed  to  build  it,  if  they 
needed,  could  not  have  its  care  for  themselves  or  their 
children. 

The  trustees  believe  that  prompt  measures  should  be 
taken  to  remedy  this  evil,  by  adding  the  present  year  to  the 
hospital  the  two  wings  contemplated  in  the  original  plan  as 
shown  in  the  engraving  accompanying  this  report.  Insanity 
is  no  respecter  of  persons.  No  man  can  be  certain  that  dis- 
ease or  accident  will  not  at  a future  day  render  him,  or  some 
one  very  dear  to  him,  dependent  for  restoration  to  soundness 
of  mind  upon  the  best  counsel  that  science  can  furnish,  com- 


91 


billed  with  facilities  for  wise  care,  which  only  a hospital  of 
the  best  kind  can  supply.  Some  severe  suffering  has  been 
endured  the  past  winter  which  could  have  been  escaped, 
could  the  sufferers  have  found  shelter  in  the  Hospital.  Nor 
is  there  cause  to  believe  that  less  pain  and  misery  will  be 
borne  by  the  insane  in  years  to  come,  than  in  the  past,  until 
the  State  shall  make  suitable  provision  for  their  wants. 

The  trustees  are  encouraged  to  believe  there  is  a growing 
conviction  among  intelligent  people  in  Connecticut,  and  else- 
where, that  the  pecuniary  interests  of  the  State,  as  well  as 
humanity  and  true  charity,  unite  in  demanding  that  the  best 
possible  provision  be  made,  at  public  expense,  for  the  care 
and  recovery  of  all  who  are  afflicted  with  insanity.  The 
danger  to  property  and  life  from  insane  persons  unrestrained, 
the  wretchedness  which  comes  to  those  who  are  improperly 
or  unskillfully  restrained  in  poorhouses,  or  in  private  build- 
ings, and  the  increased  probability  that  what  would  other- 
wise be  a transient  disease  will,  by  improper  treatment,  be  a 
life-long  malady,  are  powerful  arguments  for  a liberal  and 
enlightened  policy. 

“ The  Association  of  Medical  Superintendents  of  American 
Institutions  for  the  Insane,”  during  its  annual  session  held 
at  Hartford,  in  June  last,  by  invitation  visited  the  Hospital. 

An  editorial  report  of  the  visit  in  the  Oourant * used  this 
language  : “We  need  only  say  that  the  visitors,  who  are  the 
best  judges  of  such  a thing  in  the  country,  expressed  them- 
selves as  extremely  well  pleased  with  it  [the  Hospital]. 
Some  of  the  most  eminent  of  them,  whose  indorsement  is 
the  highest  sanction,  said  privately  that  they  knew  of  no 
other  institution  in  the  country  where  the  objects  sought  in 
such  an  institution  had  been  better  obtained.  They  said  that 
the  construction  showed  great  forethought  and  knowledge  of 
all  the  requisites,  and  a most  judicious  expenditure  of  money. 
We  may  not  improperly  quote  Dr.  Ray  as  of  this  opinion. 

“ Dr.  Kirkbride  thought  the  institution  exceedingly  cred- 
itable to  the  State,  and  remarked  that  it  was  evident  the 


92 


money  had  been  well  and  carefully  expended.  The  splendid 
situation  was  much  admired.” 

The  trustees  are  unanimous  in  the  opinion  that  no  hos- 
pital of  equal  excellence  and  capacity  to  accommodate 
patients  has  been  erected  since  the  war  for  less  money. 
Thus  far  it  has  only  cost  about  seventy-five  cents  on  an  aver- 
age to  each  inhabitant  of  the  State. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  there  is  more  than  one 
religious  society  in  the  State,  not  of  great  wealth,  which  has 
within  a few  years  erected  for  itself  a house  of  worship  cost- 
ing from  one-fourth  to  one-third  as  much  as  the  State  has 
paid  for  the  Hospital  ; and  that  a single  school  district  in 
Hartford  has  expended  for  its  schoolhouse  half  as  much  ; 
and  that  single  manufacturing  companies  have  erected  mills 
and  furnished  them  with  machinery,  at  a much  greater  cost ; 
it  is  evident  that  the  expense  for  this  institution,  in  which 
above  half  a million  of  people  have  an  interest,  has  not  bur- 
dened them. 

The  law  requires  that  the  price  of  board  shall  be  kept  at 
its  cost  to  the  institution.  Cash  purchases  very  considerably 
lessen  the  cost  of  provisions.  But  if  towns  delay  payment 
when  bills  are  due,  and  the  State  only  pays  at  the  end  of  the 
quarter,  the  difficulty  of  buying  for  cash  is  increased. 

The  trustees  would  recommend  that  the  law  be  amended 
so  that  the  State  bills  be  paid  monthly,  instead  of  quarterly, 
as  at  present. 

The  gentleman  elected  last  year  to  fill  a vacancy  in  the 
Board  of  Trustees  from  Fairfield  County,  finding  himself 
unable  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  the  office,  has  tendered  his 
resignation. 

The  official  term  of  the  members  of  the  Board  from  New 
Haven  and  Middlesex  Counties  expires  this  year.  The  ser- 
vices of  the  present  members  have  been  so  valuable  to  the 


93 


Hospital  and  to  the  State  that  we  would  respectfully  ask  their 
reappointment. 

JAMES  E.  ENGLISH,  New  Haven. 

R.  S.  FELLOWES,  New  Haven  County. 

HENRY  WOODWARD,  Middlesex 

, Fairfield  “ 

ROBBINS  BATTELL,  Litchfield 
H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN,  Hartford 
L.  S.  FULLER,  Tolland  “ 

S.  G.  WILLARD,  New  London  “ 

J.  D.  BATES,  Windham  “ 

BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS,  \ 

JULIUS  HOTCHKISS,  [ Middletown. 

JOSEPH  CUMMINGS,  ) 


REPORT  OF  THE  SUPERINTENDENT. 


Gentlemen  : — The  closing  of  another  year  of  Hospital 
history  brings  with  it  the  duty  of  presenting  a summary 
of  the  events  of  the  twelve  months  to  the  1st  of  April,  1871. 
The  blessing  of  God  has  been  over  us  during  this  period,  and 
I am  permitted  to  report  general  good  health  for  the  year 
among  officers,  employes,  and  patients.  No  unusual  sickness 
has  invaded  our  household,  and  we  have  been  exempt  from 
those  accidents  not  uncommon  to  institutions  filled  with  per- 
sons in  all  the  various  stages  of  insanity. 

A fair  proportion  of  those  committed  to  our  care  have  been 
restored  to  health,  while  much  has  been  done  to  ameliorate 
the  condition  of  that  larger  proportion  of  chronic  cases  now 
occupying  the  wards. 

A want  of  system  in  tabulating  hospital  details  and  results 
made  difficult  the  comparison  of  the  reports  of  the  various 
institutions  of  this  country ; hence  the  Association  of  Super- 
intendents of  American  Institutions  for  the  Insane,  at  their 
annual  meeting  at  Hartford  in  June  last,  recommended  a 
form  for  presenting  statistical  tables,  which  form  will  be  fol- 
lowed in  this  report. 

At  the  date  of  the  last  report  there  were  remaining  two 
hundred  and  thirty-two  (232)  patients,  of  whom  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  (114)  were  males  and  one  hundred  and  eighteen 
(118)  were  females. 

During  the  twelve  months  since  there  have  been  admitted 
forty-nine  (49)  males  and  twenty-six  (26)  females,  seventy- 
five  in  all — making  the  number  under  treatment  for  the 
year  three  hundred  and  seven  (307),  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  (163)  males  and  one  hundred  and  forty-four  (144) 
females;  — of  these  were  discharged: 


95 


Recovered , twenty  (20) , 
Improved , sixteen  (16), 
Unimproved , ten  (10), 

Died , twenty -one  (21), 


fourteen  (14)  males  and  six  (6)  females 


eleven  (11) 
five  (5) 
eleven  (11) 


and  five  (5)  “ 

and  five  (5)  “ 

and  ten  (10)  “ 


Inebriates , three  (3), 

Remaining  at  this  date  one  hundred  and  nineteen  (119) 
males  and  one  hundred  and  eighteen  (118)  females,  two 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  (237)  in  all.  The  daily  average 
during  the  year  is  283.69. 

Of  the  three  classes  for  whom  provision  is  made  in  the  Act 
of  Incorporation,  there  are  at  present  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-five (176)  pauper  patients,  fifty-eight  (58)  indigent  pa- 
tients, and  four  (4)  private  patients. 

This  simple  statement  of  the  proportions  of  these  three 
classes  (which  varies  very  little  from  the  statement  of  last 
year)  is  a complete  confutation  of  the  unjust  assertions 
which  were  made  in  the  General  Assembly,  viz.,  that  the 
present  buildings  were  adequate  to  accommodate  all  the  in- 
sane poor,  if  rich  and  paying  patients  were  excluded.  With- 
out attempting  to  discuss  the  question  which  is  suggested  re- 
specting the  injustice  of  excluding  from  public  institutions 
erected  at  the  public  expense  persons  who  are  able  to  main- 
tain themselves,  I desire  simply  to  report  that  of  the  ten  self- 
supporting  patients  of  last  year,  two  have  since  become  pau- 
pers, two  have  recovered,  one  was  removed  to  another 
institution,  and  one  died,  leaving  the  four  private  patients 
mentioned  above. 

The  law  of  the  State  regulating  admissions  requires  the 
superintendent  to  receive  applications,  without  regard  to 
their  relation  to  classes,  in  the  order  of  their  application  ; 
but  he  has  steadily  during  the  past  year  endeavored  to  dis- 
suade the  friends  of  all  who  had  means  of  their  own  from 
making  application  for  admission  to  our  over-crowded  wards. 

At  this  date  there  are  seventy-four  (74)  applications  be- 
yond our  capacity.  The  officers  are  informed,  too,  of  many 
who  would  apply  if  there  was  a prospect  of  an  immediate 
reception.  We  are  doing  all  we  can  to  meet  the  wishes  of 
friends  and  officers  of  towns  to  accommodate  those  for  whom 


96 


they  apply.  The  number  of  applications  has  sometimes 
exceeded  100  beyond  our  ability  to  receive. 

A serious  consequence  of  the  present  policy  pursued  by  the 
State  in  affording  accommodations  only  to  a limited  number 
of  its  insane,  will  be  a gradual  but  steady  increase  of'  the 
number  of  chronic  cases,  and  it  is  easy  to  calculate  that  in  a 
few  years  it  will  cost  more  money  to  support  the  chronic  in- 
sane than  it  would  no  to  finish  this  building  in  accordance 
with  the  original  design,  and  thus  be  able  to  receive  promptly 
all  cases  in  the  early  stages  of  the  disease,  when  they  are 
more  readily  cured  and  more  likely  to  be  soon  returned  to 
their  vocations  and  families. 

Of  recent  cases  admitted  to  the  Hospital  since  'its  opening 
three  years  ago,  eighty-eight  have  been  restored  to  health 
after  an  average  stay  of  fifteen  weeks  and  two  days.  Thus 
eighty-eight  recent  cases  cost  the  State  and  towns  only 
$6,724.96,  and  are  now  a part  of  the  producing  population 
of  their  several  communities ; while  the  first  eighty-eight 
chronic  cases  have  already  been  here  an  average  of  151 
weeks  each  and  cost  the  State  and  towns  $57,640.00,  and  yet 
remain  non-producers,  to  be  an  expense  probably  during  their 
lives. 

In  a population  as  large  as  that  of  Connecticut,  experience 
shows  that  about  250  new  or  acute  cases  of  insanity  will  an- 
nually occur,  the  majority  from  the  laboring  and  active 
classes  of  life.  These,  to  be  rightly  dealt  with,  in  view  of 
their  cure  and  restoration  to  their  several  kinds  of  profitable 
labor,  need  hospital  accommodations  at  once.  It  is  so  well 
known  as  to  be  almost  needless  to  repeat  that  insane  patients 
cannot  be,  advantageously  to  themselves  or  community, 
treated  in  almshouses  or  at  their  own  homes. 

In  view  of  the  number  of  insane  already  existing  in  the 
State,  and  of  the  annual  increase  to  be  expected,  is  it  econ- 
omy or  humanity  to  further  delay  such  increase  of  accommo- 
dations as  shall  enable  all  to  receive  medical  and  experienced 
treatment,  and  thus  be  restored,  after  a few  months,  to  their 
full  duties  to  society  ? 


97 


It  seems  a hard  case  to  the  officers  of  such  towns  as  have 
not  heretofore  had  occasion  to  send  a patient  to  the  hospital 
to  have  their  first  application  refused  simply  for  want  of 
room  when  they  know  that  other  towns  have  for  three  years 
availed  themselves  of  its  means  of  protection  and  treatment 
for  their  cases.  Connecticut  has  one  hundred  and  sixty-four 
(161)  towns;  one  patient  from  each  would  nearly  fill  the 
hospital.  Some  of  the  larger  towns  have  12,  15,  and  20,  or 
even  more  patients  already  here. 

The  present  policy,  if  pursued,  will  ultimately  circum- 
scribe if  not  wholly  defeat  the  very  object  intended  in  the 
creation  of  a State  hospital.  If  we  were  to  make  immediate 
room  for  the  recent  cases  which  apply  it  would  involve  the 
necessity  of  returning  to  the  several  almshouses  all  the 
chronic  cases  ; but  would  your  officers  be  justified  in  doing 
so,  or  would  the  State  sanction  such  a retrograde  movement  ? 
Would  not  legislators  wisely  say,  “it  is  far  better  to  double 
the  present  capacity  of  this  hospital  by  carrying  out  the 
original  plan  of  the  building  ” ? 

As  a belief  seems  to  be  entertained  in  some  sections  of  the 
State  that  exceeding  liberal  provision  has  already  been  made 
for  the  Connecticut  insane,  I take  occasion  to  make  a few  ex- 
tracts from  reports,  and  give  a few  facts  from  other  States. 

From  the  report  of  the  directors  and  superintendent  of  the 
West  Virginia  Hospital  for  the  Insane  for  1867 : 

“ Massachusetts,  with  five  large  hospitals  within  her 
borders,  is  providing  a sixth ; New  York,  with  five  large  pub- 
lic and  some  excellent  private  hospitals,  has  just  resolved  to 
erect  two  more  that  will  each  cost  nearly,  if  not  quite,  a mil- 
lion of  dollars.  New  Jersey,  small,  but  brave  in  duty,  with 
one  of  the  best  hospitals  in  the  world,  lias  just  resolved  to 
provide  for  all  its  insane,  and  is  enlarging  at  an  expected  cost 
of  from  two  to  three  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Pennsylva- 
nia, with  five  hospitals  of  large  size  and  some  smaller  ones, 
is  enlarging  its  western  hospital  and  building  a new  one  at 
Danville.  Maryland,  with  two  excellent  hospitals,  is  now 
building  two  more  that,  when  finished,  will  cost  together  over 
7 


98 


half  a million  of  dollars,  one  of  them  being  from  private 
munificence  entirely.  Ohio,  with  five  excellent  hospitals 
(one  devoted  to  the  , colored  insane),  has  just  resolved  to  en- 
large two  of  them  to  more  than  double  their  present  capacity, 
and  also  to  erect  a sixth  equal  to  any  of  the  others,  the  cost 
of  which  is  estimated  at  from  one-half  to  three-fourths  of  a 
million  of  dollars.  Kentucky  has  two  and  means  6 to  pro- 
vide for  every  insane  person  within  her  limits.’  ” 

Since  1867  nearly  all  of  the  above  plans  have  been  con- 
summated, and  others,  not  then  contemplated,  have  been 
formed  and  buildings  begun  and  in  process  of  completion. 

A report  presented  to  the  fourth  annual  meeting  of  the 
Rhode  Island  Hospital  concludes  as  follows  : 

‘•It  is  objected  by  some  that  hospitals  are  expensive.  Of 
this  we  are  aware  ; but  are  not  streets  and  bridges  very  ex- 
pensive ? Are  not  our  private  residences,  our  churches,  and 
other  edifices  very  expensive  ? The  practical  question  is  not 
whether  a hospital  costs  a large  sum  of  money,  but  whether 
it  is  worth  what  it  costs,  whether  the  money  is  judiciously 
expended.  No  great  institutions  dispensing  their  blessings 
from  generation  to  generation  can  be  established  without 
costing  money.  But  what  nobler  use  for  money  than  to  es- 
tablish them  ? How  trifling,  ignoble,  and  evanescent  are  the 
objects  of  many  of  our  expenditures  compared  with  the 
founding  of  a great  institution  for  the  relief  of  the  suffering, 
for  the  healing  of  the  sick,  and  for  the  exemplification  of  a 
true  Christian  benevolence  for  centuries  to  come  ? ” 

From  the  West  Virginia  Hospital  Report  before  referred 
to,  I copy  a tabular  statement  of  several  hospitals  for  the  in- 
sane, with  cost  of  buildings,  etc.,  remarking  only  that  all 
these  were  built  before  the  late  war  and  consequent  advent 
of  high  prices,  and  it  would  be  a moderate  estimate  now  to 
add  fifty  per  cent,  to  the  prices  then  ruling  : 


99 


NAME,  &c. 

Capacity. 

Cost. 

Cost  for 
Patient. 

New  York  State  Asylum,  Utica, 

440 

$517,400 

$1,185 

Maryland  Hospital,  Baltimore 

130 

213,600 

1,443 

McLean  Asylum,  Somerville,  Mass.,.  . . . 

200 

321,000 

1,605 

Penn.  Hosp.  for  Insane,  Philadelphia,. . 
New  “ “ “ “ 

240 

330,000 

1,377 

250 

325,000 

1,300 

New  Jersey  Asylum,  Trenton, 

250 

250,000 

1,000 

Maine  Hospital  for  Insane,. 

175 

150,700 

861 

Mt.  Hope  institution,  Baltimore, 

120 

200,000 

1,666 

Butler  Hospital,  Providence,  R.  I., 

110 

116,000 

828 

Lunatic  Asjlum,  Taunton,  Mass., 

250 

210,000 

1,000 

Michigan  Hospital,  Kalamazoo, 

288 

340,000 

1,180 

Northampton  Hospital,  Mass  , 

250 

335,000 

1,340 

Iowa  State  Hospital,  Mt.  Pleasant, 

250 

359,666 

1,440 

Average  cost  per  capita  before  the  war, 
“ “ “ “ with  50  per  cent, 

added  for  increased  prices,  since  the 
war 

1,248 

1,872 

Multiply  the  above  average,  $1,872,  by  200,  the  number  of 
patients  which  the  present  buildings  are  intended  to  accom- 
modate (although  now  occupied  by  287  patients),  and  the  re- 
sulting figures  are  $374,400,  so  that  thus  far  the  cost  of  our 
hospital  has  been  within  the  average.  But  one  important 
fact  should  be  kept  in  view,  viz.:  that  all  of  the  out-buildings, 
consisting  of  bakery,  laundry,  sewing  department,  boiler- 
house,  shops,  and  barn,  have  been  constructed  with  the  view 
to  provide  for  from  400  to  500  instead  of  200  patients  ; hence 
future  extensions  will  be  required  simply  to  accommodate 
patients. 

Proposals  from  responsible  builders  were  placed  in  your 
hands  last  year  offering  to  erect  one  or  two  wings  similar  to 
those  already  completed  and  occupied  for  the  sum  of  $75,000 
each.  Adding  this  amount  of  $150,000  to  the  cost  of  the 
buildings,  $375,000,  the  total  will  be  $525,000,  which  will 
provide  accommodations  for  from  400  to  500  patients  at  a 
cost  of  less  than  $1,250  each,  which  we  have  already  found 
to  have  been  the  expense  of  similar  building  previous  to  the 
war.  With  this  addition  to  our  present  capacity  your  hos- 
pital could  accommodate  the  chronic  insane  and  also  open 
its  doors  promptly  to  all  recent  cases. 


100 


Daring  the  year  31  patients  from  this  State  have  been 
treated  at  Northampton,  Mass.,  and  30  at  Brattleboro,  Yt. 
By  this  generous  action  on  the  part  of  sister  States  much 
suffering  has  been  alleviated  and  some  recent  cases  cured 
that  might  otherwise  have  become  chronic.  But  we  can  no 
longer  hope  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  State  in  this  direction. 
Your  superintendent  was  officially  notified  in  February  that 
the  hospitals  of  Massachusetts  could  receive  no  more  patients 
from  out  of  the  Commonwealth.  A similar  announcement 
comes  to  us  from  Vermont. 

General  Results . 

Twenty-one  ("21)  deaths  occurred  during  the  year.  There 
were  in  April  two  (2),  in  May  two  (2),  in  June  one  (1),  in 
July  one  (1),  in  August  one  (1),  in  September  five  (5),  in 
October  one  (1),  in  November  three  (3),  in  December  two 
(2),  in  February  one  (1),  and  in  March  two  (2).  The  num- 
ber of  deaths  equals  6.84  per  cent,  of  the  whole  number 
under  treatment.  The  respective  ages  were  49,  80,  45,  88, 
49,  37,  24,  28,  70,  39,  70,  36,  36,  29,  45,  35,  55,  68,  41,  67 ; 
thus  the  average  age  would  be  49.55  years.  The  proportion 
of  deaths  between  the  sexes  is  about  equal,  eleven  (11)  hav- 
ing occurred  among  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  (163)  male 
patients  and  ten  (10)  among  one  hundred  and  forty-four 
(144)  female  patients.  Nearly  all  of  these  cases  were 
chronic,  the  disease  having  existed  in  one  for  more  than 
forty  years. 

During  the  year  a valuable  use  of  a comparatively  new 
remedy,  the  hydrate  of  chloral,  has  been  made  in  the  treat- 
ment of  some  forms  of  insanity. 

Having  administered  it  to  as  many  as  one  hundred  persons 
of  both  sexes,  of  various  ages  and  constitutional  tendencies, 
we  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  1st,  that  it  is  the  most  sure 
and  powerful  of  all  the  sleep-producing  remedies  known  to 
the  profession ; 2d,  that  it  has  little  if  any  other  influence 
than  that  just  mentioned  ; 3d,  that  it  is  better  suited  to  the 
excited  than  the  depressed  forms  of  insanity ; 4th,  that  the 


101 


dose  may  vary  from  fifteen  (15)  to  sixty  (60)  grains;  5th, 
that  a watery  solution  loses  strength  on  exposure  to  light 
even  when  placed  in  a ground-glass  stoppered  bottle.  Sleep 
induced  by  an  ordinary  dose  of  chloral  seemes  to  be  natural 
and  refreshing.  The  patient  is  easily  aroused,  but  usually 
speaks  of  being  cold.  If  continued  for  several  weeks  a slight 
inflammation  of  the  eyelids  manifests  itself,  and  in  one  case 
of  violent  chronic  mania  where  doses  of  sixty  grains  had 
been  given  as  often  as  three  times  a day  for  several  months 
the  bowels  became  slightly  irritable.  We  have  found  it 
specially  useful  in  early  stages  of  acute  mania. 

Some  physicians  assert  that  sleep  induced  by  this  agent  is 
unnatural  and  useless,  and  that  it  does  not  shorten  the 
attack.  My  experience  has  not  been  sufficient  to  answer  the 
objection,  but  reasoning  a priori  I cannot  but  believe  that 
even  a few  hours  sleep  repeated  day  after  day  must  in  the 
end  benefit  patients.  This  remedy  is  valuable  in  the  treat- 
ment of  that  class  of  chronic  cases  found  in  every  hospital 
for  insane,  who  seem  to  be  oppressed  with  sleepiness  during 
the  day,  but  toward  night  become  wakeful  and  irritable, 
talking  and  singing  boisterously.  In  one  remarkable  case  of 
this  kind  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  rapid  and  complete 
recovery  soon  after  the  use  of  chloral. 

Special  Pathologist. 

In  my  last  report  I suggested  the  importance  of  the 
appointment  of  a special  pathologist  whose  duty  would  be  to 
make  thorough  scientific  autopsies  in  important  cases.  The 
time  of  the  resident  medical  officers  is  so  occupied  by  regular 
and  often  perplexing  daily  duties  in  a large  institution,  that 
they  have  not  sufficient  leisure  to  thoroughly  examine  and 
analyze  the  morbid  results  of  insidious  and  doubtful  cases  of 
mental  derangement. 

Recognizing  the  importance  of  such  examinations,  you 
promptly  and  unanimously  appointed  to  this  office  Dr.  E. 
C.  Seguin  of  New  York,  who  brings  to  the  work  energy  and 
ability,  as  well  as  the  experience  of  several  months  as  an 


102 


assistant  to  the  distinguished  Brown-S£quard.  Some  of  the 
results  of  the  investigations  by  Dr.  Seguin  are  herewith 
reported. 

Outdoor  Improvements. 

As  fully  as  we  could,  we  have  continued  the  improvements 
on  the  grounds,  fences/and  buildings.  The  summer  of  1870 
was  unusually  dry  and  afforded  a rare  opportunity  for  sub- 
soil drainage.  The  labor  of  several  convalescent  patients, 
under  the  direction  of  an  attendant,  laid  about  4,000  feet  of 
Boynton’s  best  drain-tile,  which  is  now  carrying  off  from  the 
grounds  a continuous  two-inch  stream  of  water. 

Considerable  work  has  also  been  done  by  them  in  grading 
and  sodding  the  grounds  adjoining  the  south  wing;  also  in 
constructing  a macadamized  road  to  the  barn  buildings. 
Capacious  root-cellars,  storing  4,000  bushels  of  vegetables, 
have  also  been  made,  and  about  90  rods  of  permanent  fence 
corresponding  with  that  previously  erected.  By  continuing 
these  improvements  from  year  to  year,  we  hope  by  and  by 
to  have  graded  and  laid  out  in  a picturesque  manner  the 
grounds  surrounding  the  hospital,  without  calling  upon  the 
State  for  an  appropriation  for  this  purpose. 

Farm. 

Under  the  judicious  management  of  Mr.  Clinton  B. 
Weatherbee,  portions  of  our  farm,  hitherto  unused,  have 
been  brought  under  cultivation,  increasing  the  receipts  from 
this  source  nearly  two  thousand  ($2,000)  dollars  as  com- 
pared with  those  of  former  years.  When  it  is  remembered 
that  the  drouth  of  last  year  probably  lessened  the  production 
of  farm  and  garden  crops  by  a third,  this  statement  will  be  a 
satisfactory  one.  Much  remains  to  be  done  before  our  land 
will  be  under  the  state  of  cultivation  we  aim  for.  Several  of 
the  fields  need  ditching  and  under-draining ; bushes  and 
stones  aie  to  be  removed  and  fences  reset.  In  these  improve- 
ments we  intend  to  use,  as  far  as  is  wise,  the  labor  of  conva- 
lescents, thus  doing  them  good,  while  a substantial  benefit 
enures  to  the  hospital.  Most  insane  persons  are  disinclined 


103 


to  manual  labor,  or  owing  to  their  mental  and  physical  con- 
dition cannot  apply  themselves  to  it.  A few,  however,  are 
peculiarly  devoted  to  some  chosen  occupation,  while  others 
are  useful  in  aiding  the  sane  in  the  performance  of  the 
various  kinds  of  work  about  a large  institution.  To  all  such 
the  judicious  bestowal  of  special  privileges  and  favors  as  a 
reward  therefor  tends  to  encourage  them  in  the  right  direc- 
tion ; but  the  primary  object  of  the  labor  of  the  insane  should 
be  their  own  improvement,  mental  and  physical. 

FARM  PRODUCTS. 


Hay, 

Corn  Fodder  (dry), 

Corn, 

Oats, 

Rye, 

Broom  Seed, 

Potatoes,  . 

Carrots, 

Beets, 

Onions, 

Turnips, 

Parsnips,  . 

Beans  (white), 

Beans  (string), 

Beans  (pole), 

Peas  (green), 

Sweet  Corn, 

Cucumbers, 

Tomatoes,  . 

Summer  Squash,  . 

Winter  Squash, 

Lettuce, 

Beet  Greens, 

Radishes,  . 

Peppers,  . . ^ 

Pie-plant,  . 

Melons, 

Broom  Brush, 

Beef, 

Yeal, 

Pork, 

Calves  (sold), 

Pigs  (sold), 


77  tons, 

$1,925.00 

18  “ 

90.00 

400  bush., 

400.00 

125  “ 

81.25 

200  “ 

200.00 

40  “ 

13.20 

1,020  “ 

1,020.00 

80  “ 

48.00 

50  “ 

45  00 

60  “ 

120  00 

27  “ 

13.50 

15  “ 

7.50 

6 “ 

18.00 

27  “ 

54.00 

19  “ 

38.00 

26  “ 

52.00 

164  “ 

164.00 

17*  “ 

25.00 

37  “ 

55.50 

45*  “ 

67.50 

4 tons, 

220.00 

4 bush., 

8.00 

21  “ 

21.00 

a*  “ 

5.00 

3 “ 

6.00 

460  lbs., 

16.10 

915  “ 

13.72 

550  “ 

66.00 

420  “ 

50.40 

100  “ 

12.00 

6,257  “ 

750.84 

93.64 

326.00 

104 


Rent  of  Pasture, 
Cabbages,  . 
Apples, 

Cider, 

Milk  (grass  fed), 
Wood, 

Straw, 

Celery, 

Total  value, 


4,500 
32  bbls., 
34  “ 

12,320  qts., 

6 cords, 
15  tons, 


The  weight  of  the  hogs  butchered  is  as  follows:  — 
895,  405,  432,  314,  297,  312,  417,  325,  385,  427,  398,  437. 


$64.40 

225.00 
80  00 

102.00 
985.60 

30.00 

375.00 

75.00 

$7,963.15 

411,  427,  405,  470, 
Total,  6,257  lbs. 


Financial  Condition . 

Referring  to  the  steward’s  detailed  statement  which  is 
herewith  submitted,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  hospital  received 
from  all  sources  (including  cash  on  hand  and  balance  with 
treasurer  at  the  beginning  of  the  year)  the  sum  of  $62,139.16, 
and  that  the  total  expenditures  for  the  support  of  the  insti- 
tution during  the  same  period  amounted  to  $61,028.90,  leav- 
ing a balance  in  our  favor  of  $1,110.26. 

Your  superintendent  is  fully  convinced  that  the  regular 
hospital  revenue  will  be  sufficient  to  meet  all  the  wants 
of  the  institution  so  long  as  provisions  and  other  necessary 
articles  remain  at  present  prices. 

I find  in  the  last  annual  report  of  the  Minnesota  Hospital 
for  the  Insane  the  following  table  of  expenses  of  several  hos- 
pitals, showing  the  weekly  cost  in  each  and  the  average 
in  all. 


Pennsylvania  Hospital  for  Insane,  Pliila.,  ....  $8.68 

Government  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.,  . . . . 7.88 

Northern  Ohio,  Newburg,  O.,  . . . . .7.17 

Nashville  Hospital,  Tenn.,  ......  6.40 

Longview,  Hamilton  County,  O.,  . . . . 5.98 

Illinois  Hospital,  Jacksonville,  .....  5.87 

Southern  Ohio,  Dayton,  O.,  . . . . . . 5.61 

New  York  State  Asylum,  Utica,  . . . . .5.53 

West  Virginia  Hospital,  Weston,  . . . . 5 42 

Central  Ohio,  Columbus,  . . . . . .4.80 

Northampton  Hospital,  Mass.,  .....  4.78 

Dixmont  Hospital,  Pittsburg,  . . . . 4 57 


105 


Wisconsin  Hospital,  Madison,  .....  $4.48 

Pennsylvania  State  Hospital,  Harrisburg,  ....  4.38 

Staunton  Asylum,  Virginia,  . . . . • .4.30 

Eastern  Kentucky,  Lexington,  . . . . .4.13 


Average  weekly  cost,  ......  $5.65 


Acknowledgments . 

We  have  received  the  following  newspapers  and  magazines 
during  the  year,  for  which  we  are  under  renewed  obligations. 


Hartford  Daily  Courant,  . 

. Hartford,  Conn. 

“ Evening  Post,  . 

i i i i 

“ Weekly  Times,  . 

ii  i i 

The  Religious  Herald, 

a a 

Conn.  General  Advertiser, 

a a 

New  Haven  Evening  Register,  . 

. New  Haven,  “ 

“ “ Morning  Journal  and  Courier, 

f t a ct 

“ “ Weekly  Palladium,  . 

ft  1 1 it 

Loomis’  Musical  Journal, 

it  tt  a 

The  Constitution,  . 

. Middletown,  “ 

Sentinel  and  Witness, 

“ “ 

Norwich  Daily  Advertiser, 

. Norwich, 

“ Weekly  Courier, 

ii  ii 

Norwalk  Weekly  Gazette, 

. Norwalk,  “ 

The  Bridgeport  Republican  and  Standard, 

. Bridgeport,  “ 

Meriden  Daily  Republican, 

. Meriden, 

Westport  Advertiser, 

. Westport,  “ 

Windham  County  Transcript, 

* 

Litchfield  Inquirer, 

. Litchfield, 

Forney’s  Weekly  Press,  . 

. Philadelphia,  Pa. 

New  York  Semi- weekly  Times,  . 

. New  York  City. 

Watson’s  Art  Journal, 

“ “ “ 

Illustrated  Christian  Weekly, 

n a <t 

American  Messenger, 

. American  Tract  Society. 

Moore’s  Musical  Record,  . 

. Manchester,  N.  H. 

The  Galaxy, 

. New  York. 

The  Hearth  and  Home, 

a ' a 

The  Atlantic, 

. Boston,  Mass. 

Godey’s  Lady’s  Book, 

. Philadelphia,  Pa. 

The  many  contributions  of  various  kinds  received  during 
the  year  indicate  an  increasing  disposition  on  the  part  of  the 
public  to  interest  themselves  in  this  benevolent  work : 

From  Hon.  Robbins  Battell  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars, 


106 


“to  be  used  as  most  needed  for  the  amusement  and  enter- 
tainment of  patients  ” ; fifteen  dollars  from  “ a lady  friend,” 
to  purchase  trees ; plants,  flowers,  and  flower  stands  from 
Mrs.  Benjamin  Douglas ; a large  basket  of  grapes  from  Mrs. 
Henry  G.  Hubbard  ; also  from  "Rev.  Mr.  Thorne  a basket  of 
pears  and  packages  of  papers;  several  books  from  Mrs. 
Samuel  C.  Hubbard,  Miss  Russell,  and  M.  B.  Copeland ; a 
parlor  croquet  board  from  Miss  Fellowes  ; a complete  file  of 
the  London  Illustrated  News  for  the  year  1870  from  Mrs. 
Fellowes  ; Circular  No.  4,  1870,  from  the  Surgeon-General 
U.  S.  Army ; valuable  public  documents  from  Hon.  S.  W. 
Kellogg,  M.C. ; several  fine  steel  plate  engravings  from  J.  W. 
Bradley,  Esq.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. ; regular  files  of  California 
papers  from  William  Shew,  Esq.,  of  San  Francisco  ; illus- 
trated papers  and  magazines  and  the  New  York  Daily  Sun 
from  Mr.  C.  E.  Putnam. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  a fund  has  been  contributed  re- 
cently, by  sixty  individuals  each  donating  five  dollars,  to 
which  we  hope  to  add  enough  to  purchase  a large  stereopti- 
con  with  suitable  slides,  and  several  hundred  books  for  our 
library. 

We  are  indebted  to  a number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 
in  Middletown  and  to  Mr.  Parsons  and  friends  of  New 
Britain  for  two  delightful  musical  entertainments  ; also  to 
Prof.  Hibbard  for  one  of  his  inimitable  readings,  which  was 
universally  enjoyed  by  our  patients. 

To  the  several  clergymen  of  this  vicinity  who  have  kindly 
conducted  our  chapel  services  throughout  the  year,  we  owe  a 
peculiar  debt,  not  in  our  power  to  cancel.  The  most  that  I 
can  do,  I do  cheerfully,  and  that  is  to  make  this  public  ac- 
knowledgment of  their  services. 

I cannot  close  this  imperfect  report  of  the  past  year  with- 
out once  more  expressing  the  deep  obligation  I am  under  to 
those  who  are  associated  with  me  in  this  arduous  work,  for 
their  continued  and  efficient  services. 

No  changes  have  occurred  among  the  officers,  and  but  few 
among  the  attendants  and  other  employed  persons.  I am 


107 


sometimes  surprised  at  this  when  I remember  what  a labori- 
ous and  peculiarly  trying  life  is  allotted  to  all  those  who 
devote  themselves  to  the  care  of  the  insane.  It  is  in  your 
power,  gentlemen,  to  lighten  these  burdens  in  the  future  as 
you  have  done  in  the  past  by  your  constant  support  and  en- 
couragement, manifested  by  frequent  visits  to  the  institution 
and  the  personal  interest  you  take  in  the  welfare  of  those 
who  are  committed  to  its  care. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

ABRAM  MARVIN  SHEW, 

Superintendent. 


Middletown,  Conn.,  March  31,  1871. 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 


The  following  statement  of  the  fiscal  concerns  of  “ The  General  Hospi- 
tal for  the  Insane,  of  the  State  of  Connecticut/’  for  the  year  commenc- 
ing April  1,  1870,  and  ending  March  31,  1871,  is  respectfully  submitted  to 
the  Board  of  Trustees: 

Receipts. 

Balance  in  the  Treasurer’s  hands,  April  1,  1870,  . . $2,851.35 

Revenue  account  from  the  Hospital,  ....  61,419  65 

Amount  received  from  Connecticut  Valley  Railroad  Company,  3,500  00 

$67,771.00 

Payments. 


Amount  of  Superintendent’s  orders,  ....  $63,883.15 
Amount  paid  on  notes,  signed  by  members  of  the  Board,  . 3,000.00 

Balance  in  the  Treasurer’s  hands,  March  31,  1871,  . . 887.85 


All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 

M.  B.  COPELAND, 


$67,771.00 


Treasurer. 


Middletown,  Conn.,  March  31,  1871. 


We  hereby  certify,  that  we  have  examined  the  vouchers  and  accounts 
of  the  Treasurer,  of  which  the  above  is  an  abstract,  and  find  them  correct. 


BENJ.  DOUGLAS, 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS, 


Auditors. 


Middletown,  Conn.,  April  15,  1871. 


J.  D.  Atherton,  Steward,  in  account  with  The  General  Hospital  for 
Insane. 

1870.  Dr. 

April  1st,  To  balance  in  bank,  . . . . . $9.69 

“ To  cash  on  hand,  .....  209.82 

1871. 

March  31st,  To  cash  received  as  revenue  (deposited  with 

Treasurer),  .....  61,419.65 

To  cash  from  Valley  Railroad  Company,  for 

fencing  purposes,  ....  500.00 


$62,139.16 


109 


1870.  Cr. 
April,  By  vouchers, 

May, 

June,  “ 

July, 

August,  “ 

September,  “ 

October,  “ 

November,  “ 

December,  “ 

1871. 

January,  “ 

February,  “ 

March,  “ 


. $4,780.44 

4.679.23 

4.963.61 
5,984.73 
4,955.06 
4,566.31 
5,839.48 

5.684.62 
4,850.53 

6.700.23 

4.883.63 
3,141.03 

887.85 

222.41 


Balance  in  bank, 
Cash  on  hand, 


$62,139.16 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable , the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut : 

The  Trustees  of  the  “ General  Hospital  for  the  Insane  of 
the  State  of  Connecticut,”  in  presenting  their  sixth  annual 
report,  ending  31st  March  last,  acknowledge,  with  gratitude 
to  God,  the  good  which  has  been  effected  in  the  institution, 
its  freedom  from  marked  and  contagious  diseases,  and  the 
very  small  percentage  of  deaths  within  its  walls,  during  the 
year  past. 

They  refer  with  satisfaction  to  the  able  reports  of.  the  super- 
intendent and  others,  submitting  herewith,  in  which  receipts, 
disbursements,  products  of  farm,  statistics,  etc.,  are  fully  set 
forth. 

It  will  be  seen  from  Dr.  Shew’s  statements,  with  what 
pleasure  he  hails  the  completion  of  the  women’s  wing,  already 
begun  under  a special  committee  of  the  State,  and  expected 
to  be  ready  for  occupation  by  the  1st  of  January,  1873, — and 
how  earnestly  he  pleads  for  an  appropriation  for  the  men’s 
wing,  in  order  that  the  evils  of  the  present  overcrowded  con- 
dition of  the  building,  and  of  too  long  delay  in  receiving 
patients,  may  be  remedied  by  increased  accommodations. 

The  remarks  of  the  superintendent  in  relation  to  insane 
convicts,  to  the  placing  them  in  same  wards  with  those  in- 
nocent of  crime,  and  to  making  provision  for  separate  accom- 
modation for  them,  deserve  serious  attention. 

It  is  known  to  many  members  of  the  legislature  that  a town 
road  has  existed  just  to  the  east  of  the  hospital  buildings, 
dividing  the  property  belonging  to  the  State.  The  town  of 
Middletown,  equally  with  the  trustees  and  officers  of  the  hos- 
pital, united  in  an  opinion  of  the  benefit  which  would  enure 
from  closing  said  road,  and  bringing  the  grounds  adjoining 
the  institution  within  one  enclosure. 


Ill 


To  effect  this  amicably,  and  set  aside  any  local  opposition, 
it  was  needful  to  acquire  control  of  about  fourteen  acres  of 
land,  and  three  dwelling-houses  thereon.  Shortly  before  the 
close  of  the  session  of  1871,  negotiations  for  the  purchase 
were  brought  to  a point,  and  the  tract  of  land  which  had 
been  the  cause  of  preventing  the  junction  of  the  two  parts  of 
the  Hospital  grounds,  came  into  the  possession  of  the  trus- 
tees. Consultation  with  certain  leading  members  of  the 
legislature  and  officers  of  the  State,  to  whom  the  matter  had 
been  explained,  confirmed  the  action  of  the  trustees,  and  they 
vere  assured  that  an  early  appropriation  would  be  recom- 
mended, with  winch  to  cancel  the  notes  of  hand  given  indi- 
vidually by  members  of  the  board,  upon  which  notes  was 
borrowed  the  money  to  buy  this  land  for  the  State.  But  in 
the  press  of  legislative  business,  at  the  winding  up  of  the  ses- 
sion, the  providing  of  the  means  was  unfortunately  omitted. 

The  trustees  respectfully  ask  an  early  appropriation  of 
seventeen  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  and  the  interest 
on  the  notes  given  by  the  individual  members  of  the  board. 

The  town  of  Middletown  has  voted  to  close  this  road,  and 
has  for  the  convenience  of  the  public,  opened  another  road 
west  of  the  hospital. 

The  houses  purchased  have  been  altered,  and  a partial  trial 
of  the  “ Cottage  System  ” lias  been  made,  comments  on  which 
will  be  found  in  the  superintendent’s  report.  It  does  not 
appear  to  be  as  economical  a system  as  the  “ Congregate,” 
nor  as  acceptable  generally  to  the  patients. 

The  special  committee  on  the  affairs  of  the  hospital,  ap- 
pointed in  1870,  made  their  printed  report  to  the  General 
Assembly  of  1871,  and  among  favorable  notices,  approved 
warmly  of  the  wisdom,  and  even  “ generosity  ” of  individuals 
of  the  board,  who  had,  on  their  private  credit,  provided 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  as  a working  capital  for  the 
business  department  of  the  institution,  with  which  cash  pur- 
chases could  be  made  of  supplies,  etc.,  absolutely  needed  by 
the  Hospital.  That  committee  reported  in  favor  of  an  ap- 
propriation with  which  to  retire  the  individual  notes  given 
for  the  benefit  of  the  State  of  Connecticut.  That  appropria- 


112 


tion  was  not  made  — those  notes  yet  remain  in  the  possession 
of  two  savings  banks  in  the  city  of  Middletown.  The  trustees 
respectfully  ask  that  the  retiring  of  these  notes  may  be  made 
early  practicable  by  a prompt  vote  of  the  money  by  your  hon- 
orable body.  The  benefit  of  such  a ready-cash  capital,  afford- 
ing means  to  purchase  at  cash  rates,  secure  discounts  on 
supplies,  and  preserve  a high  financial  credit  for  the  institu- 
tion, will  be  apparent  to  every  member  of  the  legislature. 
Every  cent  thus  saved  and  gained  has  been  saved  and  gained 
for  the  State  — yet  it  has  been  done  by  individual  respon- 
sibility. 

The  trustees  are  well  satisfied  with  the  interior  working  of 
the  hospital,  and  feel  in  their  hearts  to  commend  highly  the 
officers  and  employes,  by  whose  agencies  the  work  is  done. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  legislature,  as  a body,  or  by  their  Com- 
mittee on  Humane  Institutions,  in  their  fostering  oversight 
of  this  great  organ  of  the  humanity  and  charity  of  the  State, 
will,  at  an  early  day  of  the  session,  visit  the  hospital  and  so 
be  prepared  by  personal  knowledge  to  do  what  shall,  in  their 
good  judgment,  be  for  the  best  interests  of  the  State  in  this 
direction. 

In  the  regular  order,  the  terms  of  service  of  two  members 
of  the  board  expire  each  year  — the  places  of  those  from 
Fairfield  and  Litchfield  counties  are  to  be  filled. 


Very  respectfully  submitted, 
Marshall  Jewell, 
Robbins  Battell, 
Samuel  Lynes,  M.D., 
H.  Sidney  Hayden, 
Lucius  S.  Fuller, 
Samuel  G.  Willard, 
Joseph  D.  Bates, 
Richard  S.  Fellowes, 
Henry  Woodward, 
Benjamin  Douglas, 
Julius  Hotchkiss, 
Joseph  Cummings, 


Hartford. 

Norfolk. 

Norwalk. 

Windsor. 

Tolland. 

Colchester. 

Danielsonville. 

New  Haven. 

Middletown. 

u 

u 

u 


"REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


Gentlemen:  With  the  close  of  another  year  it  becomes 
my  duty  to  submit  the  sixth  annual  report  of  the  General 
Hospital  for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

The  tables  herewith  presented  are  carefully  drawn  from 
our  permanent  records,  and  will  show  the  result  of  the  last 
year’s  labors,  as  well  as  a statistical  history  of  the  institution 
from  its  opening  in  April,  1868. 

To  those  who  by  frequent  visits  have  been  informed  of  the 
general  condition  of  the  institution,  it  may  seem  needless  to 
recapitulate  details  which  have  attended  the  usual  professional 
and  other  labor  here  performed. 

It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  the  annual  report 
of  a public  institution  ought  to  furnish  to  the  public  a sum- 
mary of  such  facts  as  are  of  interest  to  every  citizen  in  the 
commonwealth  ; and  that  these  facts,  so  familiar  with  us, 
will,  in  the  general  distribution,  reach  a large  number  of 
readers  who  are  not  conversant  with  the  character  and  aims 
of  an  institution  for  the  insane. 

Results  already  attained  during  the  brief  history  of  this 
hospital  furnish  direct  evidence  of  its  usefulness.  Applica- 
tions for  admission  constantly  increase,  and  are  already  far 
beyond  the  capacity  of  the  present  structure. 

To  meet  these  demands  I appeal  to  you  for  an  enlarged 
building,  increased  accommodations,  and  the  continuance  of 
your  hitherto  hearty  and  generous  encouragement. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1871,  there  were  in  the  institution 
two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  (237)  patients,  of  whom  one 
hundred  and  nineteen  (119)  were  males  and  one  hundred  and 
eighteen  (118)  were  females.  During  the  last  twelve  months 
there  have  been  admitted  fifty-six  (56)  males  and  thirty-six 


8 


114 


(36)  females,  ninety-two  (92)  in  all,  making  the  number  under 
treatment  for  the  year  three  hundred  and  twenty-nine  (329), 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  (175)  males  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty-four  (154)  females.  Of  these  were  discharged  : 

Recovered , seventeen  (17),  eleven  (11)  males,  six  (6)  females. 

Improved,  eleven  (11),  seven  (7)  “ four  (4)  “ 

Unimproved , twenty-four  (24),  fourteen  (14)  *'  ten  (10)  “ 

Died , fifteen  (15),  nine  (9)  “ six  (6)  “ 

Remaining  at  this  date  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  (134) 
males  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  (128)  females,  two 
hundred  and  sixty-two  (262)  in  all.  The  daily  average  dur- 
ing the  year  is  242.64.  No  other  testimony  is  needed  to 
prove  the  wise  forethought  of  those  who,  only  six  years  ago, 
were  most  urgent  in  their  efforts  to  establish  a general  hos- 
pital for  the  insane  of  Connecticut. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  ninety-two  (92)  patients  were 
admitted,  thus  making  the  total  number  of  persons  under 
treatment  greatly  in  excess  of  any  previous  year.  The  appli- 
cations for  the  same  period  were  178. 

The  painful  fact  of  these  numerous  applications,  however, 
does  not  afford  an  exact  criterion  of  the  increasing  demands 
for  such  an  institution. 

The  selectmen  of  towns  and  probate  judges,  knowing  that 
the  house  is  overcrowded,  have  made  application  only  for 
such  persons  as  were  unmanageable  at  home;  your  officers 
are  informed  of  many  who  would  apply  if  there  were  a pros- 
pect of  immediate  or  early  reception. 

The  act  of  incorporation  provides  for  the  admission  of 
three  classes  of  patients,  viz. : the  town  poor,  the  indigent, 
and  private  or  self-supporting  patients.  By  subsequent  reso- 
lution of  the  General  Assembly,  the  officers  of  this  hospital 
were  directed  to  receive  and  hold  such  insane  convicts  as 
might,  by  due  process  of  law,  be  transferred  from  the  State 
Prison  at  Wethersfield. 

Of  these  four  classes  there  are  at  present  one  hundred  and 
eighty -four  (184)  pauper  patients,  seventy  (70)  indigent 
patients,  two  (2)  private  patients,  and  six  (6)  insane 
convicts. 


115 


This  simple  statement  bears  evidence  to  the  fact  that  the 
people  of  Connecticut  desire  to  protect  first  the  afflicted  poor, 
and  then  those  who  are  alfie  to  bear  a part  or  the  whole  of 
the  expense  of  their  support.  But  is  it  generally  known  that 
the  policy  adopted  in  1866  to  provide  for  the  insane  of  Con- 
necticut has  been  only  partially  carried  out  ? Do  the  people 
of  this  commonwealth  understand  that,  while  accommodations 
have  been  provided  for  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  patients, 
there  are  at  least  as  many  more  cases  knocking  at  our  doors 
for  admission  ? I am  sure  that  the  urgent  appeals,  the  pitiful 
stories  of  suffering  and  danger  daily  brought  to  the  notice  of 
your  superintendent,  if  heard  in  the  legislative  halls,  would 
move  to  pity  the  hardest  hearts. 

At  the  last  session  of  the  General  Assembly  an  appropria- 
tion was  made  for  the  erection  of  another  wing,  for  the 
accommodation  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  female 
patients.  Work  on  it  is  vigorously  prosecuted,  and  it  is 
expected  the  building  will  be  opened  on  or  before  January  1, 
1878.  With  this  large  addition  to  the  present  building, 
rooms  will  be  provided  for  all  female  patients  without  previ- 
ous application.  I trust  the  need  will  be  apparent  to  the 
General  Assembly  to  provide  the  amount  to  erect  a corres- 
ponding wing  on  the  south  side,  for  the  reception  of  male 
patients,  to  carry  out  the  plan  of  the  hospital.  The  building 
would  then  have  ample  accommodations  to  meet  the  demands 
of  the  State  for  the  next  few  years. 

It  is  perhaps  not  generally  known  that  the  present  policy 
of  the  State  is  to  receive  patients  in  the  regular  order  of  appli- 
cation, which  mode  virtually  excludes,  at  the  time  of  greatest 
need,  acute  cases  — requiring  imperatively  immediate  hospi- 
tal care  — from  the  benefits  of  prompt,  systematic  treatment. 

By  referring  to  table  No.  xxvn,  it  will  be  seen  that  there 
are  at  this  date  two  hundred  and  forty-two  (242)  chronic 
cases  in  our  wards  (our  inheritance  of  old  almshouse  treat- 
ment), and  only  twenty  (20)  whose  restoration  to  health  may 
be  hopefully  anticipated. 

By  studying  table  No.  xiv,  you  perceive  that  of  five  hundred 


116 


and  sixty-nine  (569)  patients  admitted  since  the  institution 
was  opened,  three  hundred  and  forty-eight  (348)  were  brought 
to  us  after  the  disease  had  existed  more  than  one  year,  and 
two  hundred  and  ninety-two  (292)  of  these  more  than  two 
years.  Under  these  circumstances  our  tables  cannot  show 
a large  percentage  of  recoveries.  The  hospital  is  doing  its 
allotted  work  none  the  less  usefully  by  providing  for  the 
chronic  insane,  a majority  of  whom  are  troublesome  and 
dangerous  to  the  community  when  at  large. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  State  has  already  provided 
ample  accommodations  for  nearly  all  of  this  class,  — facts  in 
our  possession  showing  that  only  a few  deranged  persons 
remain  in  the  almshouses.* 

Every  consideration,  then,  of  sound  policy,  true  economy, 
and  wise  philanthropy  would  seem  to  require  that  the  com- 
paratively small  additional  appropriation  needed  to  finish  the 
hospital  should  be  made  to  relieve  the  sufferings  of  those 
remaining  in  the  almshouses,  as  well  as  to  promptly  provide 
for  the  admission  of  recent  cases,  as  they  constantly  occur. 

The  following  words  from  my  last  annual  report  are  none 
the  less  true  to-day,  and  hence  will  bear  repetition : 

UA  serious  consequence  of  the  present  policy  pursued  by 
the  State  in  affording  accommodations  only  to  a limited  num- 
bers of  its  insane  will  be  a gradual  but  steady  increase  of  the 
number  of  chronic  cases,  and  it  is  easy  to  calculate  that  in  a 
few  years  it  will  cost  more  money  to  support  the  chronic 
insane  than  it  would  now  to  finish  this  building  in  accordance 
with  the  original  design,  and  thus  be  able  to  receive  promptly 
all  cases  in  the  early  stages  of  the  disease,  when  they  are 
more  readily  cured,  and  more  likely  to  be  soon  returned  to 
their  vocations  and  families.” 

“ In  a population  as  large  as  that  of  Connecticut  experience 
shows  that  about  250  new  or  acute  cases  of  insanity  will 
annually  occur,  the  majority  from  the  laboring  and  active 

* While  writing  this  I have  received  an  application  from  New  Haven 
for  accommodations  for  “ over  twenty  insane  persons  ” “now in  the  alms- 
house,” and  for  “ several  more  ” “ at  institutions  out  of  the  State.” 


117 


classes  of  life.  These,  to  be  rightly  dealt  with,  in  view  of 
their  cure  and  restoration  to  their  several  kinds  of  profitable 
labor,  need  hospital  accommodations  at  once.  It  is  so  well 
known  as  to  be  almost  needless  to  repeat,  that  insane  patients 
cannot  be,  advantageously  to  themselves  or  the  community, 
treated  in  almshouses  or  at  their  own  homes.” 

During  the  past  few  years  the  question  of  the  proper  care 
and  treatment  of  insane  criminals  has  attracted  the  earnest 
attention  of  philanthropists  and  thoughtful  people  of  all  lands 
interested  in  the  improvement  of  prisons. 

Recognizing  the  fact  that  prison  walls,  close  cells,  and 
constant  confinement  are  not  compatible  wdth  the  welfare  of 
deranged  persons,  the  legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
in  1858,  made  an  appropriation  for  the  erection  at  Auburn 
of  an  asylum  for  insane  convicts.  The  building  is  commodi- 
ous, well  planned,  and  organized  as  other  state  institutions, 
and  to  it  are  sent  insane  convicts  and  persons  charged  with 
crime  where  insanity  is  suspected. 

Some  other  States  with  smaller  population  have  amended 
their  statutes  so  as  to  authorize  the  governor,  after  being 
satisfied  of  the  insanity  of  convicts,  to  send  them  to  state 
hospitals.  In  1869  the  committee  on  prisons  of  the  general 
assembly  of  this  State  reported  the  astounding  fact  that  there 
were  several  insane  convicts  at  Wethersfield,  closely  confined 
in  damp  cells,  without  suitable  provision  for  comfort  or 
treatment. 

Acting  upon  this  information,  the  following  resolution  was 
promptly  adopted  : 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly  : That  the  trustees  of  the  General 
Hospital  for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  are  hereby 
required  and  directed  to  make  suitable  provision  for  the 
reception  of  said  insane  convicts  into  the  institution  under 
their  care  and  direction.” 

The  two  additional  resolutions  specify  the  manner  in 
which  the  spirit  of  this  resolution  shall  be  carried  out. 

In  compliance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  eight  prison- 
ers have  been  sent  to  us  from  Wethersfield,  one  of  whom 


118 


died,  and  one  eloped,  leaving  six  the  present  number  of  this 
class  in  the  hospital. 

Without  attempting  to  discuss  the  question  as  to  the  justice 
or  injustice  of  placing  criminal  insane  in  contact  and  hourly 
association  with  innocent  persons,  I would  suggest  a plan  by 
which  ample  justice  may  be  done  to  both  classes  without 
subjecting  the  institution  to  ungenerous  criticism. 

An  appropriation  of  five  thousand  ($5,000)  dollars  would 
enable  you  to  reconstruct  and  furnish  a stone  building  situated 
in  the  rear  of  the  hospital,  which  has  heretofore  been  used 
for  shop  purposes.  This  building  was  erected  with  the 
ulterior  view  of  being  used  for  some  such  purpose;  it  is  of 
stone,  27x52  feet,  two  stories  in  height  with  a Mansard  roof. 
It  could  be  arranged  to  accommodate  twelve  patienls  of  this 
class,  securing  for  them  humane  hospital  treatment  while 
separated  from  the  larger  body  of  innocent  persons  occupying 
our  wards. 

When  friends  and  relatives  of  patients  come  to  visit  them, 
the  first  remark  often  made  is,  UI  hope  my  brother  is  not  in 
a ward  with  criminals”  A negative  reply  can  generally  be 
given,  but  occasionally,  I am  obliged  to  confess  that  the  per- 
son referred  to  is  not  only  the  companion,  but  also,  in  our 
crowded  building,  the  room-mate  of  criminals. 

The  good  people  of  Connecticut,  ever  ready  to  respond  to 
the  calls  of  the  suffering,  have  decided  to  provide  humanely 
for  these  poor  creatures ; but  I cannot  believe  that  they  wish 
to  have  the  present  unsatisfactory  arrangement  perpetuated 
for  want  of  the  expenditure  of  so  small  a sum,  which  would 
remove  all  objections. 

During  the  past  four  months  we  have  had  an  opportunity 
of  making  a partial  trial  of  the  u Cottage  System.”  Two 
dwelling-houses  situated  a few  rods  south  of  the  main  build- 
ing, on  the  land  recently  purchased  for  the  hospital,  were 
refitted  and  furnished  in  a plain  manner  for  the  occupation 
of  fourteen  (14)  male  and  sixteen  (16)  female  patients, 
selected  from  the  class  of  quiet  chronic  cases.  The  build- 
ings are  simple  wooden  structures,  heated  by  coal  stoves  and 


119 


lighted  by  common  oil  lamps.  Every  precaution  possible  has 
been  taken,  and  yet  they  are  liable  to  be  burned  at  any 
moment.  The  only  means  of  ventilating  these  houses  is  by 
opening  windows  and  doors. 

The  plan  was  not  adopted  from  choice  ; it  was  resorted  to 
as  a temporary  measure  to  provide  immediate  accommoda- 
tions for  thirty  poor  insane  persons  until  the  permanent  wings 
of  the  hospital  could  be  erected. 

Sufficient  time  has  elapsed  to  convince  me  that  under  more 
favorable  circumstances,  the  “ Cottage  System”  can  be  made 
to  play  an  important  part  in  connection  with  a regularly  or- 
ganized hospital.  There  is  a certain  air  of  social  comfort, 
more  like  the  ordinary  home  life,  pervading  these  cottages, 
than  can  be  found  in  the  wards  of  a hospital.  I have  already 
witnessed  a favorable  change  in  the  conduct  and  disposition 
of  one  noisy,  troublesome,  chronic  patient  since  her  removal 
to  the  cottage  for  females,  leading  us  to  entertain  the  hope 
that  she  will  eventually  recover.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  I 
find  that  very  few  of  these  u would  be  willing  long  to  ex- 
change the  activities  and  the  social  good  cheer  of  the  larger 
numbers  for  the  monotony  and  dullness  of  the  isolated  cot- 
tage.” The  system,  I believe,  can  be  applied  only  to  a limited 
number.  A few  cottages  substantially  constructed  of  brick 
or  stone,  situated  sufficiently  near  the  main  building  to  be 
properly  heated  by  steam  and  lighted  by  gas  from  the  com- 
mon center,  would  be  a desirable  addition  to  our  present 
methods  of  caring  for  the  insane.  With  this  arrangement 
the  superintendent  would,  from  day  to  day , transfer  to  the 
cottages  such  patients  as  he  found  in  condition  to  require 
fewer  restraints  upon  their  personal  liberty. 

WATER  SUPPLY. 

The  supply  of  water  for  a hospital  should  be  pure,  abund- 
ant at  all  seasons,  and  of  the  proper  chemical  composition  to 
adapt  it  to  the  various  uses  of  a public  institution.  In  this 
respect  your  location  possesses  superior  advantages.  Perhaps 
a brief  description  of  the  reservoir  and  connecting  pipes  will 
aid  those  who  are  locating  similar  institutions. 


120 


At  a distance  of  one  and  a half  miles  from  the  building,  is 
an  interesting  geological  range  of  hills,  known  as  the  “ White 
Rocks.”  These  hills  are  nearly  destitute  of  soil  and  vegeta- 
tion, but  thousands  of  springs  bubble  forth  from  crevices  in 
the  rock,  unite  and  form  streams  of  considerable  size,  which 
pass  into  the  Connecticut  River  through  a number  of  ravines. 
On  one  of  these  streams,  known  as  “ Trout  Brook  ” or  u But- 
ler’s Creek,”  a reservoir  covering  about  two  acres,  was  formed 
by  making  a substantial  dam  across  the  ravine.  This  dam 
or  embankment  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  (150)  feet  in  length, 
fifteen  (15)  feet  in  width  across  the  top,  with  a slant  each 
way  of  eighteen  (18)  inches  to  every  twelve  (12)  inches  per- 
pendicular. The  inner  slope  is  covered  with  broken  stone ; 
the  top  is  four  feet  above  high  water  mark.  A large  waste 
canal,  cut  in  the  rocks  on  one  side  of  the  dam,  carries  off  sur- 
plus water.  The  bottom  of  the  reservoir  was  thoroughly 
grubbed  of  vegetable  matter  and  soil  before  being  used.  The 
average  depth  of  water  is  about  four  (4)  feet ; elevation  above 
the  ground  floor  of  the  hospital  seventy-four  (74)  feet.  From 
this  reservoir  a six-inch  iron  pipe  conveys  the  water  to  the  - 
building.  At  suitable  low  points  “ blow-offs”  were  put  in 
the  main  pipe,  by  which  sediment  can  be  removed. 

The  quality  of  the  water  is  unexceptionable  and  in  ordinary 
seasons  of  sufficient  quantity  to  supply  several  institutions  of 
this  size.  During  the  greater  portion  of  the  year  the  amount 
of  water  passing  off  through  the  waste  canal  would  be  con- 
sidered sufficient  for  a good  mill  privilege. 

GENERAL  RESULTS. 

Fifteen  (15)  deaths  occurred  during  the  year.  There  were 
in  April  one  (1),  in  May  one  (1),  in  August  one  (1),  in  Sep- 
tember two  (2),  in  November  three  (3),  in  December  one  (1), 
in  January  three  (3),  in  February  two  (2),  and  in  March  one 
(1).  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  rate  of  mortality,  calcu- 
lated upon  the  whole  number  treated,  is  4.55  per  cent.  The 
average  age  was  51.8  years.  Nine  (9)  deaths  occurred  among 
one  hundred  and  seventy -five  (175)  male  patients,  and  six  (6) 


121 


among  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  (154)  female  patients.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  deaths  were  due  to  the  slow  and  grad- 
ually debilitating  influence  of  diseases  of  the  nervous  system 
long  continued.  Only  three  patients  died  of  acute  disease. 

We  have  continued  the  use  of  chloral  in  nearly  all  cases  of 
wakefulness  and  irritability,  and  have  had  the  satisfaction  of 
witnessing  marked  improvement  in  some  and  complete  recov- 
ery in  others.  Our  experience  during  the  past  twelve  months 
would  seem  to  substantiate  the  conclusions  previously  arrived 
at  and  explained  in  my  last  report.  Other  medicinal  reme- 
dies have  of  course  been  used  as  necessity  required. 

We  have  found  the  thermometer  of  practical  value  in  the 
treatment  of  diseases  of  the  nervous  system.  A greater 
familiarity  with  its  uses  will,  I am  sure,  place  it  among  the 
most  valuable  instruments  of  practical  diagnosis. 

Your  pathologist,  Dr.  Seguin,  has  made  a critical  examina- 
tion in  a case  of  general  paresis  (that  most  formidable  of  all 
diseases),  the  results  of  which  are  fully  set  forth  in  his  re- 
port herewith  transmitted.  Similar  carefulness  and  com- 
pleteness of  examination  of  a few  of  such  cases  would  un- 
doubtedly throw  much  light  upon  a field  of  physiological  and 
pathological  domain  hitherto  nearly  unexplored. 

During  the  year  much  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  general 
improvements  that  will  bear  a passing  notice.  A substantial 
post  and  board  fence  has  been  made  to  enclose  our  reservoir 
— the  result  of  labor  performed  mainly  by  patients  and  at- 
tendants. Three  hundred  (300)  young  apple,  pear,  and  plum 
trees  were  purchased  in  October,  and  carefully  transplanted  ; 
also  a large  number  of  raspberry  and  gooseberry  and  currant 
bushes  and  several  varieties  of  grape  vines.  The  first  cost 
of  these  is  trifling  in  comparison  with  the  profitable  results 
hoped  for  in  years  to  come.  Roads  and  walks  have  been 
made  and  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs  started  around  the 
building;  much  more  remains  to  be  done  in  this  direction, 
and  healthy  employment  can  be  given  for  years  to  such  of  our 
inmates  as  are  suited  to  out-door  labor. 

Several  large  storerooms  have  been  finished  off  in  the  base- 


122 


ment  of  the  center  building,  into  which  the  general  supplies 
are  received.  The  ventilating  flues  from  the  rooms  in  the 
intermediate  wing  which  previously  terminated  in  the  attic, 
discharging  their  contents  through  one  large  opening,  have 
been  prolonged  independently,  in  stacks  of  six  flues  above  the 
roof,  thereby  increasing  their  efficiency,  while  lessening  danger 
from  fire.  It  is  proposed  to  continue  a similar  much-needed 
improvement  in  the  south  wing. 

The  high  board  fence  referred  to  in  my  last  report  has  been 
completed,  with  the  exception  of  a few  rods,  where  it  is  to 
cross  the  old  highway  recently  closed  by  a vote  of  the  town. 
To  insure  protection  against  intrusion  on  the  grounds  of  the 
hospital,  a small  building  is  needed  near  the  principal  en- 
trance, to  be  occupied  by  a man  of  small  family,  whose  duty 
would  be  to  keep  in  order  the  roads  and  walks,  to  open  and 
close  the  gate  for  visitors,  and  prevent  the  incursion  of  cattle 
and  damage  to  grounds  and  crops  from  the  carelessness  of 
those  neglecting  to  close  the  gate.  It  is  evident  that  such  an 
arrangement  wrnuld  prove  a great  convenience  to  the  hospital 
and  to  the  public. 

Mr.  Clinton  B.  Wetherbee  continues  the  supervision  of  the 
hospital  farm.  Referring  to  a subjoined  list  of  products,  it 
will  be  seen  that  his  labors  have  been  successful  and 
profitable. 

The  total  of  valuation  is  about  the  same  as  that  of  last 
year.  A comparison  of  quantities,  however,  shows  the  pleas- 
ing fact  that  last  year’s  crops  were  nearly  double  those  of  any 
corresponding  period.  As  all  products  of  the  farm  are  used 
in  the  institution,  the  quality  and  quantity  are  of  far  greater 
importance  than  the  market  price.  The  increase  in  quantity 
is  attributable  to  a favorable  season,  additional  labor  of  patients 
and  improved  condition  of  the  land.  It  is  our  aim  to  grad- 
ually bring  under  tillage  all  parts  of  the  farm,  and  by  a sys- 
tem of  drainage  and  use  of  the  house  sewage,  to  enrich  and 
improve  land  which  has  been  heretofore  of  little  value. 

I am  not  able  to  report  the  exact  number  of  days’  labor 
performed  by  convalescent  and  quiet  chronic  patients.  Ap- 


123 


predating  the  restorative  value  of  systematic  out-door  em- 
ployment, I have  endeavored  to  encourage  those  who  desire 
to  work,  or  whom  we  judge  would  be  benefited  by  light  occu- 
pation. During  the  summer  season  from  fifteen  (15)  to 
thirty  (30)  male  patients  assisted  on  the  farm ; many  more 
were  regularly  engaged  about  the  grounds  and  buildings.  A 
fair  proportion  of  the  female  patients  were  occupied  in  the 
sewing-room,  laundry,  and  kitchen,  and  much  of  the  routine 
work  on  the  wards  was  performed  even  by  others  who  needed 
to  be  judiciously  watched. 


FARM  PRODUCTS. 

Hay, 

67  tons, 

$2,010.00 

Corn  fodder  (dry), 

21  “ 

105.00 

Corn, 

530  bushels, 

‘487.60 

Oats, 

92 

61.64 

Broom  seed, 

48 

15.84 

Potatoes,  . 

. 2,250 

1,125.00 

Carrots, 

260 

130.00 

Beets, 

110 

99.00 

Onions, 

327 

294.30 

Turnips, 

690 

207.00 

Beans  (string), 

39 

78.00 

Beans  (pole), 

46 

92.00 

Peas  (green), 

361  “ 

73.00 

Parsnips,  . 

25  *'*t 

12.50 

Sweet  corn, 

121 

108.90 

Cucumbers, 

117 

146.25 

Tomatoes,  . 

80 

80.00 

Summer  squash, 

17 

17.00 

Winter  squash, 

. 4,600  lbs, 

115.00 

Lettuce, 

21  bushels, 

25.20 

Beet  greens, 

44 

33.00 

Radishes,  . 

8 

7.00 

Pie  plant,  . 

281  “ 

28.50 

Melons, 

. 3,100  lbs., 

62.00 

Broom  brush, 

520  “ 

31.20 

Beef, 

13  cwt., 

110.00 

Yeal, 

. 150  lbs., 

15.00 

Pork, 

. 5,242  “ 

366.94 

Roasting  pig, 

1 

7.00 

Calves  (sold). 

60.40 

Pigs  (sold), 

159.00 

Rent  of  pasture, 

194.13 

124 


Cabbage,  . 

. 4,500 

$180.00 

Asparagus, 

1 bushel, 

5.00 

Strawberries, 

171  qts., 

84.20 

Cherries, 

2 bushels, 

4 00 

Apples, 

9 bbls., 

36.00 

Cider, 

8 “ 

64.00 

Milk  (grass  fed),  . 

. 15,840  qts., 

950.40 

Wood, 

18  cords, 

90.00 

Fence  posts, 

64 

19.20 

Straw, 

9 tons, 

162.00 

Celery, 

25.00 

Turkeys, 

812  lbs., 

68.64 

Chickens,  . 

404  “ 

68.68 

Eggs, 

566  doz., 

175.00 

Total, 

. 

$8,289  52 

Weight  of  hogs,  485|,  477|,  452/394,  450,  386,  564,  449,  567,  j 

502,  515. 

Average  weight,  476T6T. 

FINANCIAL  CONDITION. 

The  regular  hospital  revenue  has  been  sufficient  to  meet 
the  current  want  of  the  institution  during  the  year. 

Prom  the  treasurer’s  report  and  steward’s  detailed  state- 
ment herewith  submitted,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  hospital  re- 
ceived from  all  sources  (including  cash  on  hand  and  balance 
with  treasurer  at  the  beginning  of  the  year)  the  sum  of  $76,- 
809.40,  and  that  the  total  expenditures  during  the  same 
period  were  $75,573.32,  leaving  a balance  with  treasurer  and 
cash  on  hand  of  $1,236.08. 

Favorable  contracts  at  low  rates  have  already  been  made 
for  the  coal  needed  during  the  next  twelve  months. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

The  subjoined  list  of  newspapers  and  magazines  has  been 
received  during  the  year,  for  which  we  are  under  renewed 
obligations  : 

Hartford  Daily  Courant,  Hartford,  Conn. 

“ Evening  Post,  “ 

“ Weekly  Times,  “ 44 

Iteligious  Herald,  “ “ 

Conn.  General  Advertiser,  . “ “ 


New  Haven  Evening  Register, 

“ Morning  Journal  and  Courier, 

“ Weekly  Palladium, 

Conn.  Herald  and  Weekly  Journal, 
Whitney’s  Musical  Guest, 

Watson’s  Art  Journal, 

New  York  Semi -weekly  Times, 

The  Constitution, 

Sentinel  and  Witness, 

Norwich  Daily  Advertiser, 

“ Weekly  Courier, 

Bridgeport  Republican  and  Standard, 
Meriden  Daily  Republican, 

Westport  Advertiser, 

The  Tolland  County  Journal. 

Windham  County  Transcript. 

Moore’s  Musical  Record, 

The  Galaxy, 

The  Hearth  and  Home, 

The  Atlantic, 

Godey’s  Lady’s  Book, 


New  Haven,  Conn. 


Toledo,  Ohio. 
New  York. 

C 6 

Middletown,  Conn. 

i i t r 

Norwich,  “ 

Bridgeport,  “ 
Meriden,  “ 
Westport,  “ 


Manchester,  N.  H. 
New  York. 

Boston,  Mass. 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 


Many  friends  of  the  insane  have  continued  to  manifest 
their  interest  by  contributions  of  various  kinds : 

Mr.  A.  B.  Gillette  of  Hartford  added  to  our  library  a com- 
plete set  (32  vols.)  of  J.  Fennimore  Cooper’s  novels,  substan- 
tially bound  expressly  for  hospital  use ; Mrs.  Frederick  W. 
Hubbard,  4 bound  volumes  Atlantic  Monthly,'  2 volumes 
Ladies  Repository,  and  life  of  Gen.  Lyon  ; Miss  Mary  Roberts, 
6 volumes  Eclectic  Magazine  and  other  books  ; several  books, 
illustrated  papers,  puzzles,  and  basket  of  flowers  from  Mrs. 
Rockwell;  from  the  estate  of  Miss  Jane  Cooper,  several  volumes 
and  magazines;  McLean  & Co.,  complete  set  of  Dickens’ 
works,  diamond  edition  ; Mrs.  Dyson,  books,  engravings,  and 
maps;  Charles  E.  Kent,  Esq.,  several  volumes  Appleton’s 
Journal,  Hearth  and  Home,  American  Agriculturist,  and 
other  papers  ; Wm.  T.  Gleason,  Esq.,  18  books  ; from  a Friend, 
of  New  Haven,  2 copies  of  Illustrated  Christian  Weekly;  a 
complete  file  of  the  London  Illustrated  News  for  the  year 
1871,  from  Mrs.  Fellowes  ; a Kidder’s  battery  from  A.  M. 
Smith,  Esq.,  of  New  Haven ; Rev.  J.  H.  Bradford,  Superin- 


126 


tendent  Industrial  School  for  Girls,  12  Trophy  tomato  plants; 
and  many  valuable  tokens  of  interest  from  Mrs.  Hubbard, 
Rev.  Mr.  Thorne,  and  M.  B.  Copeland,  Esq. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  South  Congregational  Church  choir 
of  Middletown,  and  to  Mr.  Parsons  and  friends  of  New 
Britain,  for  two  delightful  musical  entertainments. 

‘Our  chapel  services  have  been  conducted  regularly  on  every 
Sabbath  afternoon  during  the  year  by  the  clergymen  of  Mid- 
dletown and  vicinity.  Much  interest  is  manifested  by  the 
patients,  and  few  interruptions  occur  to  mar  the  sacredness 
of  these  gatherings. 

No  change  have  occurred  in  the  staff  of  officers,  and  but 
few  among  the  employed  in  the  various  positions  in  and 
about  the  hospital.  I desire  to  express  my  deep  obligations 
to  all  associated  with  me  in  places  of  trust,  who  have  con- 
scientiously assisted  in  sharing  the  burdens  incident  to  hos- 
pital life. 

To  the  members  of  your  board,  I am  greatly  indebted  for 
hearty  and  intelligent  co-operation  and  personal  kindness. 
The  trying  life  of  those  devoted  to  the  care  of  the  insane  here  is 
made  lighter  by  your  sympathy  and  care.  It  is  our  highest 
aim  to  attain  for  this  institution  the  greatest  measure  of  use- 
fulness of  which  it  is  capable. 

For  all  our  blessings  and  for  that  protection  which  has 
guarded  us  from  so  many  dangers,  renewed  acknowledgments 
are  due  to  an  overruling  Providence.  Reverently  invoking 
His  blessing,  I again  commend  this  institution  to  your  con- 
tinued oversight  and  to  the  fostering  aid  of  an  enlightened 
commonwealth. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

ABRAM  MARVIN  SHEW, 

Superintendent . 

Middletown,  Conn.,  March  31,  1872. 


REPORT  OF  TREASURER. 


The  following  statement  of  the  fiscal  concerns  of  “ The  General  Hospital 
for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,”  for  the  year  commencing 
April  1,  1871,  and  ending  March  31,  1872,  is  respectfully  submitted  to  the 
Board  of  Trustees  : 

RECEIPTS. 


Balance  in  treasurer’s  hands,  April  1,  1871,  . . . $887.85 

Revenue  account  from  the  hospital,  ....  75,699.14 

$76,586.99 

PAYMENTS. 


Amount  of  superintendent’s  orders,  ....  $75,495.42 

Balance  in  treasurer’s  hands,  March  31,  1872,  . . . 1,091.57 

$76,586.99 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 


Middletown,  Conn.,  April  1,  1872. 


M.  B.  COPELAND, 

Treasurer. 


We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  vouchers  and  accounts  of 
the  treasurer,  of  which  the  above  is  an  abstract,  and  find  them  correct. 

JOSEPH  CUMMINGS,  ) 

BENJ.  DOUGLAS,  [Auditors, 
JULIUS  HOTCHKISS,  ) 


REPORT  OF  STEWARD. 


J.  Delos  Atherton,  Steward, 

in  account  with  the 

General  Hospital 

for  the  Insane. 

1871. 

April  1st,  to  balance  in  bank,  . 

Dr. 

$887.85 

to  cash  on  hand, 

222.41 

1872. 

March  31st,  to  cash  received  as 

revenue 

(deposited 

with 

treasurer), 

75,699.14 

1871. 

April,  by  vouchers, 

Cr. 

$76,809.40 

$6,608.83 

May,  “ 

6,11999 

June,  “ 

4,512.31 

July,  “ 

8,034.64 

August,  “ 

8,543.62 

September,  “ 

6,494.07 

October,  “ 

7,460.76 

November,  “ 

4,060.51 

December,  “ 

6,656.99 

1872. 

January,  “ 

7,414.16 

February, 

3,922.52 

March,  “ 

5,744.92 

Balance  in  bank, 

*1,065.27 

Cash  on  hand, 

170.81 

$76,809.40 

* Check  No.  652,  $26.30,  drawn  by  the  steward,  had  not  reached  the  treasurer;  hence  an 
apparent  discrepancy  to  that  amount  between  the  balance  in  bank  reported  by  each. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  Gceneral  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut : 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  “ General  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,”  at  Middletown,  herewith 
submit  their  seventh  annual  report. 

In  so  doing  they  would  acknowledge  with  devout  gratitude 
the  divine  goodness  which  has  continued  to  bless  the  hospi- 
tal and  has  given  it  a year  of  unusual  prosperity.  The  benefits 
that  the  patients  receive  from  the  skillful  treatment  and 
healthful  influences  it  affords  are  increasingly  apparent. 

The  encouraging  facts  relating  to  the  interior  management 
and  successful  working  of  this  institution  during  the  year 
ending  March  31,  1873,  are  set  forth  in  the  annexed  report 
of  the  superintendent,  and  its  financial  condition  in  that  of 
the  treasurer. 

The  additional  north  wing,  voted  by  the  legislature  of  1871, 
has  been  opened  for  the  reception  of  female  patients,  of 
whom  a large  number  were  waiting  for  admission:  The  cor- 

responding south  wing,  to  which  money  was  appropriated  by 
the  legislature  last  year,  has  been  pushed  forward  by  the 
commissioners  as  rapidly  as  circumstances  would  admit. 

The  houses  purchased  in  1871,  and  used  as  cottages  for 
quiet  patients,  prove  a valuable  auxiliary  to  the  hospital. 
The  time  may  come  when  it  will  be  wise  to  increase  the 
number  of  these  buildings. 

The  street  across  the  grounds  in  the  rear  of  the  hospital, 
so  long  a fruitful  source  of  trouble,  has  been  peaceably 
closed. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  hospital,  as  shown  by  the 
report  of  the  superintendent  and  of  the  treasurer,  is  such  as 
to  afford  satisfaction  to  all  its  friends.  The  care  with  which 
purchases  of  provisions  are  made,  the  excellent  and  profitable 


130 


management  of  the  farm,  the  exactness  of  the  system  by 
which  the  accounts  are  kept,  — all  these  afford  good  ground 
for  confidence  in  the  economy  and  skill  of  its  administration. 

The  value  of  what  may  be  called  the  working  capital  of  the 
hospital,  as  ascertained  by  a careful  inventory,  has  increased 
since  April,  1872. 

The  superintendent  and  his  assistants,  who  have  remained 
through  the  year,  have  so  ably  and  successfully  performed 
their  various  and  often  trying  duties  as  to  deserve  a contin- 
uance of  our  personal  regard  and  hearty  support. 

The  necessity  for  the  hospital  and  its  firm  hold  upon  the 
intelligent  sympathy  of  the  citizens  of  Connecticut  have,  in 
the  year  past,  been  more  than  ever  apparent.  Its  fitness  to 
do  the  beneficent  work  of  caring  for  the  insane  of  the  State, 
for  which  it  was  chartered,  becomes  more  evident  as  its  facili- 
ties are  augmented,  the  large  and  increasing  number  of  those 
needing  its  help  more  reliably  ascertained,  and  it  is  generally 
understood  that  it  possesses  means,  inferior  to  none  yet  dis- 
covered, of  effecting  a permanent  cure  of  its  patients ; or,  fail- 
ing in  that,  of  humanely  and  tenderly  ministering  to  their 
necessities  while  they  remain  within  its  walls. 

No  appropriation  is  asked  for  the  hospital  this  year. 

The  official  term  of  the  members  of  this  board  from  the 
counties  of  Hartford  and  Tolland  terminates  in  1873. 

Very  respectfully  submitted. 


Samuel  G.  Willard, 
Joseph  D.  Bates, 
Richard  S.  Fellowes, 


Marshall  Jewell, 
II.  Sidney  Hayden, 
Lucius  S.  Fuller, 


Hartford. 

Windsor. 

Tolland. 

Colchester. 


Henry  Woodward, 
Robbins  Battell, 


Danielsonville. 
New  Haven. 
Middletown. 


Samuel  Lynes,  M.D., 


Norfolk. 

Norwalk. 


Benjamin  Douglas, 
Julius  Hotchkiss, 
Joseph  Cummings, 


Middletown. 


u 

u 


REPOET  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


Gentlemen  : — The  Seventh  Annual  Report  of  the  General 
Hospital  for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  for  the 
fiscal  year  ending  March  31,  1873,  is  respectfully  submitted. 

The  number  of  persons  admitted  and  discharged  and  the 
results  of  treatment  are  given  in  the  annexed  tables. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  (336) 
persons  (all  from  Connecticut)  have  received  the  protecting 
care  of  the  hospital  and  enjoyed  its  privileges  during  the 
year.  The  number  of  applications  for  admission  was  one 
hundred  and  ninety  (190). 

Of  the  four  classes  for  whom  provision  is  legally  made, 
there  have  been  two  hundred  and  seventeen  (217)  pauper 
patients,  ninety-eight  (98)  indigent  patients,  twelve  (12)  pri- 
vate patients,  and  nine  (9)  insane  convicts. 

Referring  to  table  No.  1,  you  observe  that  eleven  (11)  per- 
sons have  been  discharged  u Recovered.”  This  number  in- 
cludes only  those  whose  restoration  to  health  is  complete  and 
positive,  in  whom  there  is  no  more  reason  to  anticipate  an- 
other attack  of  mental  derangement  than  in  the  same  num- 
ber of  sane  persons  selected  from  society  in  general.  It  does 
not  include  those  who  have  recovered  from  the  delirium 
caused  by  chronic  inebriety. 

Under  the  second  class  “ Improved,”  are  numbered  many 
discharged  persons  whose  restoration  to  health  was  con- 
sidered complete,  or  assured,  and  who  were  permitted  to  leave 
the  hospital  to  make  room  for  more  urgent  cases.  Subse- 
quent information  has  usually  justified  this  course  of  action. 
A wise  precaution  would,  however,  often  dictate  a longer  stay 
until  the  mind  had  become  strong  and  accustomed  to  act  un- 
der the  influence  of  new  surroundings. 


132 


Under  the  third  class,  “ Stationary,”  are  enumerated  all 
inebriates,  whatever  may  have  been  their  condition  when  dis- 
charged. Some  of  these  continue  temperate  for  years  after 
leaving  the  hospital ; others  resist  temptation  for  a while  but 
finally  succumb  to  the  power  of  appetite  and  diseased  organ- 
ization. Hence  it  seems  correct  to  class  all  such  cases  among 
those  who  are  “ Stationary.”  This  division  also  includes  a 
large  number  of  quiet  chronic  cases  who  were  removed  by  the 
selectmen  or  judicial  authorities  to  make  room  for  dangerous 
and  destructive  patients. 

The  number  of  deaths  during  the  year  is  equal  to  6.25  per 
cent,  of  the  total  number  under  treatment  and  7.93  per  cent, 
of  the  daily  average.  This  shows  a slight  increase  of  mor- 
tality compared  with  the  report  of  last  year,  but  is  still  below 
the  average  death  rate  in  hospitals  for  the  insane.  Among 
the  alleged  causes  of  death  (see  Table  XXII),  you  will  note  an 
absence  of  specific  cerebral  disorders  in  a majority  of  the 
cases.  One  patient  was  brought  to  the  hospital  in  an  uncon- 
scious condition  and  only  survived  four  days.  Another  case 
of  acute  mania  which  was  delivered  at  the  hospital  literally 
bound  from  64  head  to  foot”  with  a clothes  line  (an  antiquated, 
improper,  and  needless  mode  of  restraint),  died  on  the  eighth 
day.  Deaths  occurred  in  months  as  follows  : in  April  one 
(1),  in  May  three  (3),  in  June  five  (5),  in  August  two  (2),  in 
September  one  (1),  in  October  one  (1),  in  November  one  (1), 
in  December  four  (4),  in  February  one  (1),  and  in  March  two  (2). 
It  thus  appears  that  the  mortality  in  the  six  warm  months 
exceeded  that  in  the  six  cold  months.  The  average  age  was 
47.90  years.  There  were  eleven  (11)  deaths  among  one 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  (177)  male  patients,  and  nine 
(9)  among  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  (159)  female  patients. 
The  causes  are  given  in  Table  XXII.  In  my  report  of  last  year 
your  attention  was  directed  to  the  fact  that  of  two  hundred  and 
sixty-two  (262)  patients  remaining  on  the  31st  day  of  March, 
1872,  two  hundred  and  forty-two  (242)  were  chronic  cases 
in  whom  the  disease  had  lasted  from  two  to  forty  years. 
Owing  to  the  policy  of  receiving  patients  in  the  regular  order 


133 


of  application  nearly  all  of  the  seventy-four  (74)  admitted  since 
that  date  have  belonged  to  the  same  class.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  nine  (9)  or  ten  (10),  all  of  this  number  have  been 
kept  from  six  to  twelve  months  awaiting  their  chance.  Re- 
peatedly have  I been  obliged  to  deny  admission  to  urgent 
cases  from  this  immediate  vicinity  and  seek  accommodations 
for  them  elsewhere.  It  is,  therefore,  with  profound  satisfaction 
that  I anticipate  the  early  completion  of  the  new  north  wing. 
The  addition  of  these  four  wards,  with  accommodations  for  one 
hundred  female  patients,  will  lessen  our  labors  while  in- 
creasing our  numbers.  Experience  teaches  the  advantages 
derived  from  a judicious  classification  ; without  it  successful 
treatment  is  almost  an  impossibility.  Thus  far  in  the  history 
of  this  institution,  the  success  attained  has  been  accomplished 
under  the  disadvantages  of  an  over-crowded  building,  and 
hence  a lack  of  proper  classification. 

At  the  last  annual  meeting  of  u The  Association  of  Medi- 
cal Superintendents  of  American  Institutions  for  the  Insane,” 
held  at  Madison,  Wisconsin,  the  following  resolutions  were 
unanimously  adopted  and  commended  to  the  consideration  of 
all  having  authority  in  the  management  of  hospitals  for  the 
insane : 

Resolved,  That  this  association  regards  the  custom  of  admitting 
a greater  number  of  patients  than  the  buildings  can  properly  ac- 
commodate, which  is  now  becoming  so  common  in  hospitals  for  the 
insane  in  nearly  every  section  of  the  country,  as  an  evil  of  great 
magnitude,  productive  of  extraordinary  dangers,  subversive  of  the 
good  order,  perfect  discipline,  and  greatest  usefulness  of  these  in- 
stitutions, and  of  the  best  interests  of  the  insane. 

Resolved , That  this  association,  having  repeatedly  affirmed  its 
well-matured  convictions  of  the  humanity,  expediency,  and  econ- 
omy of  every  State  making  ample  provision  for  all  its  insane,  re- 
gards it  as  an  important  means  of  effecting  this  object  that  these 
institutions  should  be  kept  in  the  highest  state  of  efficiency,  and 
the  difference  in  condition  of  patients  treated  in  them,  and  those 
kept  in  almshouses,  jails,  or  even  private  houses,  be  thus  most 
clearly  demonstrated. 


134 


Resolved , That  while  fully  recognizing  the  great  suffering  and 
serious  loss  that  must  result  to  individuals  by  their  exclusion  from 
hospitals  when  laboring  under  an  attack  of  insanity,  this  associa- 
tion fully  believes  that  the  greatest  good  will  result  to  the  largest 
number,  and  at  the  earliest  day,  by  the  adoption  of  the  course  now 
indicated. 

Resolved , That  the  boards  of  management  of  the  different  hospi- 
tals on  this  continent  be  urged,  most  earnestly,  to  adopt  such  meas- 
ures as  will  effectually  prevent  more  patients  being  admitted  into 
their  respective  institutions,  than,  in  the  opinions  of  their  superin- 
tendents. can  be  treated  with  the  greatest  efficiency,  and  without 
impairing  the  welfare  of  their  fellow  sufferers. 

Resolved , That  the  secretary  be  instructed  to  furnish  a copy  of 
these  resolutions  to  the  boards  of  managements  of  the  different  hospi- 
tals for  the  insane  in  the  United  States  and  the  British  Provinces. 

May  30th,  1872. 

At  the  present  time,  when  so  much  is  being  said  about  the 
pleas  of  insanity  in  criminal  cases,  it  may  interest  the  thought- 
ful people  to  know  that  in  Connecticut  persons  accused  of 
crime  and  acquitted  by  reason  of  mental  derangement  are 
sent  to  this  institution  for  custodial  treatment.  During  the 
period  covered  by  this  report,  twelve  (12)  persons  of  this 
class  have  been  received,  the  majority  of  whom  are  still  un- 
der treatment.  Authority  for  this  mode  of  procedure  is 
found  in  an  amendment  to  section  two  hundred  and  forty- 
three  (243)  of  the  act  concerning  crimes  and  punishments, 
and  is  as  follows : “ Whenever  any  person,  tried  on  any 
criminal  charge,  shall  be  acquitted  on  the  ground  of  insanity 
or  dementia,  the  court  before  which  the  trial  shall  be  had, 
may,  if  it  shall  deem  it  proper,  order  such  person  to  be  con- 
fined in  The  General  Hospital  for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  for  such  time  as  said  court  shall  direct.” 

GENERAL  IMPROVEMENTS. 

During  the  year  much  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  general 
improvements.  To  enumerate  all  in  detail  would  require 
considerable  time  and  space.  1 will  mention  such  as  seem 


135 


of  special  interest.  Early  in  the  season  a large  and  substan- 
tial coal-shed,  capable  of  storing  five  hundred  (500)  tons, 
was  erected  near  the  hospital  wharf  and  Connecticut  Valley 
Railroad.  By  this  arrangement  a cargo  can  be  unloaded 
rapidly  at  any  season  of  the  year  and  kept  under  cover  until 
such  time  as  the  hospital  teams  can  be  advantageously  used 
in  hauling  it  to  the  building. 

Up  to  the  present  time  our  facilities  for  keeping  ice  have 
been  equal  to  about  two-thirds  (f)  of  the  quantity  required. 
To  meet  the  increased  demand  incident  to  an  accession  of 
numbers  it  was  decided  to  build  near  the  hospital  reservoir  a 
house  of  sufficient  size  to  store  seventy  (70)  tons.  This 
building  was  completed  and  filled  during  the  winter. 

Last  October  two  cow-sheds,  each  sixty  feet  in  length,  with 
stalls  for  twenty-eight  (28)  head  of  cattle,  and  a piggery 
eighty  feet  in  length,  were  added  to  the  large  hospital  barn  ; 
also  several  root  bins  in  the  cellar. 

Many  other  improvements  and  additions  will  be  made  as 
soon  as  the  funds  will  admit. 

During  the  coming  summer  I trust  that  much  needed  work 
in  filling  and  grading  grounds  in  front  of  the  hospital,  in 
laying  out  walks  and  roads,  and  in  starting  shrubbery  and 
trees  may  be  done.  Owing  to  the  rough  and  unfinished 
condition  of  the  land  immediately  surrounding  the  building, 
it  has  been  impossible  to  direct  outdoor  exercises  and  sports, 
except  in  the  mildest  weather.  Under  these  circumstances, 
the  yards  connected  with  the  wards  for  excitable  patients 
have  been  of  incalculable  benefit. 

FARM. 

The  hospital  farm  has  furnished  nearly  enough  vegetables 
to  supply  our  wants.  Mr.  Weatherbee  continues  to  diiect 
this  portion  of  labor  with  energy,  skill,  and  faithfulness.  Im- 
provements have  been  made  in  fences,  ditches,  roads,  and 
barns.  Stock  has  been  added  from  time  to  time,  as  the 
growth  of  the  family  seemed  to  require  ; in  fact,  we  point 
with  satisfaction  to  the  subjoined  list  of  farm  products  as 


186 


the  only  statement  needed  to  disprove  the  assertion  that  the 
“ farm  ” was  an  u expensive  luxury.”  Aside  from  its  value  as 
a producing  source,  it  is  of  incalculable  advantage  to  a large 
proportion  of  chronic  male  patients,  affording  them  an  oppor- 
tunity for  healthful  outdoor  employment,  such  as  they  could 
not  have  in  any  other  way.  The  all-important  question  in 
the  management  and  treatment  of  the  insane  after  the  acute 
stage  is  how  to  properly  occupy  their  time  and  attention  dur- 
ing the  months  of  convalescence  or  years  of  chronic  derange- 
ment. It  is  during  this  period  that  the  mental  faculties 
either  become  stimulated  into  healthful  action,  or  depressed 
into  a state  of  lethargy  and  indifference,  which  soon  tends 
towards  dementia.  Public  opinion  will  not  now  sanction  the 
course  here  suggested,  but  I believe  the  time  is  not  far  dis- 
tant when  all  superintendents  will  be  required  to  prescribe 
work  and  employment  for  their  patients,  as  they  now  do 
medicines  and  amusements. 


Hay, 

Corn  fodder  (dry), 
Corn, 

Oats, 

Rye, 

Potatoes, 

Carrots, 

Beets, 

Onions, 

Turnips, 

Beans  (strings), 
Beans  (pole), 

Peas  (in  shell), 
Parsnips, 

Sweet  Corn, 
Cucumbers, 
Tomatoes,  . 
Summer  squash, 
Currants, 

Winter  squash, 
Lettuce, 

Beet  greens, 


FARM  PRODUCTS. 

83  tons, 

32  “ 

565  bushels, 
137 
97 

. 2,161 
208 
178 
85 
740 

454  4 4 

50 
44 
34 

684  “ 

184|  “ 

110 

39 

4 

24  tons, 

124  bushels, 
80 


$2,075.00 
112  00 
254.25 
82.20 

97.00 
1,836.85 

104.00 

89.00 

119.00 

296.00 
68.25 

75.00 

88.00 

17.00 

68.50 
206  64 

110.00 

39.00 
2.00 

100.00 

12.50 

80.00 


13T 


Pie  plant,  . 

889  lbs., 

$ 22.22 

Melons, 

3,640  “ 

72.80 

Cabbages,  . 

8,000  “ 

560.00 

Asparagus,  . 

1|  bushels, 

7.00 

Strawberries, 

95  qts., 

19.00 

Cherries, 

1 bushel, 

2 00 

Pears, 

12 

24.00 

Apples, 

73  bbls. , 

146.00 

Cider, 

61  “ . . 

152.50 

Milk  (grass  fed), 

16,418  qts., 

985.08 

Straw, 

18  tons, 

288.00 

Yeal, 

137  lbs., 

20.00 

Pork, 

7,721  “ 

540.47 

Calves  (sold), 

161.25 

Pigs  (sold),  . 

53  00 

Calf  skins,  . 

8.00 

Pent  of  pasture, 

86.90 

Roast  pigs,  . 

5.00 

Celery, 

35.00 

Turkeys, 

36Hlbs., 

79.42 

Chickens, 

42  “ . . 

8.40 

Eggs, 

64  doz.  (30  cts.), 

19.20 

Total,  • . 

. 

$9,246.63 

Weight  of  hogs,  353,  475,  477, 

345,  365,  563,  601,  602,  785, 

507,  453, 

442,  420,  483,  403,  447.  Total,  7,721  lbs. 
Average  weight,  482  9-16. 


COTTAGE  SYSTEM. 

I can  conscientiously  and  gladly  confirm  what  our  last  re- 
port contained  on  this  subject.  In  spite  of  the  crude  and 
disadvantageous  way  in  which  we  are  making  trial  of  it,  the 
results  are  favorable.  It  will  be  pleasant  to  the  friends  of 
the  insane  to  know  that  in  the  woman’s  cottage,  containing 
as  the  average  of  the  year  past  about  fifteen  (15),  almost 
wholly  of  the  demented  class,  there  has  been  no  special  sick- 
ness, no  quarreling,  and  their  being  thus  grouped  under 
sagacious  attendants  has  developed  a power  of  setting  them- 
selves to  work  which  has  surprised  us.  For  example,  64 
pairs  of  stockings  have  been  knit,  84  towels  and  140  yards 
of  toweling  have  been  hemmed  for  our  new  north  wing,  52 
handkerchiefs  and  30  bed-spreads  were  hemmed,  and  much 


138 


repairing  done ; and  all  this  from  our  most  mentally  wrecked 
ones. 

It  shows  that  with  wise  attendants  much  happiness  may 
be  brought  by  suitable  employments,  even  to  such  wretched 
ones,  besides  giving  substantial  results  for  the  institution. 
The  very  success  with  our  imperfect  little  two  cottages 
makes  me  long  for  the  day  when  it  will  be  in  your  power  to 
order  the  erection  of  more  structures  adapted  expressly  to 
the  wants  of  the  men  and  women  who  would  be  benefited 
by  the  cottage  system. 

A TRANSFER  HOME. 

All  having  care  of  convalescent  insane  are  conscious  of 
the  powerful  effect  of  what  I may  call  a sense  of  timidity, 
which  operates  on  patients  who  are  so  well  recovered  as  to 
reflect  on  the  prospect  of  their  leaving  the  wards,  and  en- 
tering again  the  scenes  of  an  active  world.  Many  instinct- 
ively shrink  from  going  away ; as  they  reflect  on  the  position 
out  of  which  they  have  come  and  forward  to  busy  events,  it 
is  no  wonder  they  feel  sensitively  all  the  expected  question- 
ings and  actions  of  the  renewed  contact  with  acquaintances 
and  friends.  It  is  just  here  that  I am  made  to  feel  a want 
for  our  institution,  namely,  what  I have  called,  for  lack  of  a 
better  name,  a transfer  home,  where  these  convalescents 
could  be  transferred,  to  remain  from  a week  to  a month,  to 
remove  the  tinge  of  delusions,  and  in  getting  used  to  sane 
companions,  and  in  recovering  the  tone  of  mind,  heart,  spirit, 
and  manners  in  view  of  an  early  return  to  their  occupations 
and  homes.  As  inflammation  of  the  eyes  requires  confine- 
ment in  a darkened  room,  and  on  the  removal  of  the  evil 
light  is  gradually  introduced,  so  as  not  to  wound  but  to 
strengthen  the  delicate  visual  organs,  so  in  diseases  of  the 
brain,  in  recovering  from  them,  there  are  stages  of  freedom 
to  be  attained  even  slowly,  until  the  full  restoration. 


139 


RECEIPTS  AND  EXPENDITURES. 

By  referring  to  the  detailed  statement  herewith  submitted, 
you  will  observe  that  the  hospital  received  from  all  sources 
(including  balance  with  treasurer  and  cash  on  hand  April  1, 
1872)  the  sum  of  seventy-nine  thousand,  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-three  dollars  and  thirty-eight  cents  ($79,798.38),  and 
that  the  total  expenditures  during  the  same  period  were 
seventy-seven  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  eighty-one  dollars 
and  fifty-six  cents  ($77, 981.56),  leaving  a balance  with  treas- 
urer and  cash  on  hand  of  $1,811.82. 

Religious  services  have  been  conducted  regularly  every 
Sabbath  afternoon  during  the  year  by  the  clergymen  of  Mid- 
dletown and  vicinity.  About  one-half  of  all  the  patients  are 
in  condition  to  attend  and  enjoy  these  exercises.  In  their 
behalf,  I desire  thus  publicly  to  acknowledge  the  obligation 
we  are  under  to  those  gentlemen  who  have  gratuitously  and 
at  much  personal  inconvenience  rendered  this  service. 
Much  has  been  done  during  the  year  by  officers,  employes, 
and  friends  to  amuse  and  instruct  those  committed  to  our 
care.  Many  valuable  slides  were  added  to  the  collection, 
and  the  stereopticon  was  used  one  evening  in  the  week,  ex- 
cept when  the  time  was  occupied  by  lectures,  readings,  or 
concerts.  The  usual  dancing  parties  have  been  continued 
during  the  cool  season  of  the  year. 

To  the  Rev.  C.  M.  Loomis  we  are  indebted  for  an  interest- 
ing lecture  on  South  Western  Africa,  illustrated  by  drawings 
and  the  exhibition  of  implements  and  weapons  used  by  the 
natives. 

To  Mr.  Barnabee  and  troupe  for  one  of  their  inimitable 
musical  entertainments. 

To  Prof.  Franklin  and  friends  for  an  “ Old  Folks  Concert.” 

The  billiard  room  has  continued  to  be  a resort  for  some  of 
our  patients. 

During  the  summer  a base  ball  club  was  organized  from 
among  officers  and  employes,  which  was  sufficiently  skilled  to 
play  matched  games  with  clubs  from  other  towns.  As  the 
ball  ground  is  located  a few  rods  from  the  hospital,  this  sport 


140 


attracted  and  interested  the  south  wing  patients,  and  thus 
helped  to  while  away  many  summer  afternoons. 

Hon.  T.  S.  Gold,  secretary  of  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
furnished  nine  volumes  of  reports,  for  which  we  are  under 
renewed  obligations;  also  to  A.  B.  Gillette  of  Hartford,  fora 
complete  set  of  Scott’s  novels,  handsomely  bound  ; to  Geo.  F. 
Prior  of  Middletown,  several  volumes  of  magazines  and 
books;  to  Messrs.  Thorne,  Copeland,  Hubbard,  Putnam, 
McLean,  Rockwell,  and  Finney,  for  similar  favors ; Mrs. 
Fellowes  of  New  Haven  has  continued  to  furnish  the  London 
Illustrated  News,  which  I have  had  bound  for  permanent  use. 

To  the  publishers  of  the  subjoined  list  of  newspapers,  re- 
ceived gratuitously,  I would  return  thanks.  Among  our 
readers  are  many  persons  who  watch  for  their  “ daily  ” with 
as  much  eagerness  as  do  men  in  other  conditions  of  life.  I 
trust  that  other  papers  may  be  added  to  the  list  during  the 
year. 


Hartford  Daily  Courant,  . 

“ Evening  Post,  . 

“ Weekly  Times,  . 

The  Religious  Herald, 

Conn.  General  Advertiser, 

New  Haven  Evening  Register, 

“ “ Morning  Journal  and  Courier, 

“ “ Weekly  Palladium,  . 

Conn.  Herald  and  Weekly  Journal, 

The  Constitution,  Weekly, 

Sentinel  and  Witness, 

Norwich  Daily  Advertiser, 

“ Weekly  Courier, 

Tolland  County  Journal,  . 

Bridgeport  Republican  and  Standard, 
Meriden  Daily  Republican, 

Westport  Advertiser, 

Whitney’s  Musical  Guest, 

Watson’s  Art  Journal, 

Moore’s  Musical  Record,  . 


Hartford,  Conn. 


< < < i 

New  Haven,  Conn. 

( t a a 

t t (i  tt 

a a a 

Middletown,  “ 

Norwich,  “ 

a a 

Tolland, 

Bridgeport,  “ 

Meriden, 

Westport,  “ 

Toledo,  Ohio. 

New  York  City. 
Manchester,  N.  H. 


During  the  year  just  drawing  to  a close  I have  been  aided 
in  this  arduous  work  by  many  officers  and  employes  whom  it 
would  be  a pleasure  to  mention  by  name  with  words  of  com- 


141 


mendation  for  their  constant,  untiring,  and  self-sacrificing 
devotion  to  their  several  duties.  To  all  such  I am  under 
heartfelt  obligations.  Others,  from  lack  of  natural  fitness  or 
want  of  proper  self-respect  and  self-control,  have  found  by 
experimental  knowledge  that  other  fields  of  labor  were  better 
adapted  to  their  several  idiosyncrasies.  With  all  such  I have 
endeavored  to  deal  kindly,  firmly,  and  justly,  always  placing 
the  best  interests  of  the  hospital  first  and  foremost.  It  can 
never  be  considered  as  any  mark  disrespect,  when  an  individ- 
ual is  not  likely  to  gain  credit  or  give  satisfaction  in  a 
station,  to  give  him  an  opportunity  to  embrace  another  pur- 
suit better  calculated  to  advance  his  own  interests. 

At  your  meeting  in  October  you  saw  fit  to  increase  your 
superintendent’s  duties  and  responsibilities  in  a manner 
which  I trust  has  contributed  to  the  efficiency  and  better 
management  of  the  hospital.  For  this  new  mark  of  confi- 
dence, and  for  your  cordial  and  intelligent  co-operation  dur- 
ing another  year,  I am  truly  grateful.  Humbly  invoking  the 
blessings  of  Divine  Providence,  I again  commend  this  insti- 
tution to  your  continued  oversight. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

A.  M.  SHEW, 

Superintendent . 

Middletown,  Conn.,  March  81, 1878. 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 


The  following  statement  of  the  fiscal  concerns  of  “The  General  Hos- 
pital for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,”  for  the  year  commencing 
April  1,  1872,  and  ending  March  31,  1873,  is  respectfully  submitted  to  the 


Board  of  Trustees. 

RECEIPTS. 

Balance  in  treasurer’s  hands,  April  1,  1872,  ....  $1,091.57 

Amount  received  from  State  treasurer  (appropriation),  . . 39,500.00 

Revenue  account  from  the  Hospital, 86,834.29 

Total, $127,425.86 


PAYMENTS. 

Amount  paid  Savings  Banks  for  notes  given  by 

the  trustees, $39,500.00 


Less  interest  refunded, 553.38  $38,946.62 

Amount  of  superintendent’s  orders 86,895.26 

Balance  in  treasurer’s  hands,  March  31,  1873,  . . . 1,583.98 

Total, $127,425.86 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 


M.  B.  COPELAND, 

Treasurer. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  April  1,  1873. 


We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  vouchers  and  accounts  of 
the  treasurer,  of  which  the  above  is  an  abstract,  and  find  them  correct. 


BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, ) 
JULIUS  HOTCHKISS,  j 


Auditors. 


SUPERINTENDENT’S  FINANCIAL 
REPORT. 


DEBTOR. 


1872. 
April  1. 

To  balance  in  bank,  .... 

$1,065.27 

“ 

To  cash  on  hand,  .... 

170.81 

Oct  and 

To  temporary  loan  deposited  with 

Nov. 

treasurer, 

9,712.08 

1873. 

March  31. 

To  cash  received  as  revenue,  deposited 

with  treasurer,  .... 

77,122.21 

“ 

To  rebate  of  interest  from  trustees’ 

notes  deposited  with  treasurer,  . 

553.38 

CREDIT. 

April, 

1872.  By  vouchers,  .... 

$8,950.39 

May, 

tt  tt  a 

3,479.91 

June, 

tt  1 1 a 

6,207.47 

July, 

tt  tt  tt 

9,607.47 

August, 

tt  <<  tt 

3,789.43 

September, 

tt  a it 

6,851.65* 

October, 

tt  tt  a 

14,991.33 

November, 

1 1 it  a 

6,198.63 

December, 

i t tt  tt 

4,863.48 

January, 

1873.  " .... 

4,278.60 

February, 

tt  tt  tt 

4,509.78 

March, 

a a tt 

4,253.44 

January, 

1873.  Amount  paid  temporary  loan, 

5,000.00 

March, 

a tt  tt  tt  tt 

3,830.37 

$88,623.75 


$77,981.56 


$8,830.37 

March  31,  1873.  Balance  in  bank, 1,583.98 

“ “ Cash  on  hand, 227.84 

Total, $88,623.75 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable , the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut : 

The  undersigned,  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  General  Hos- 
pital for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  at  Middle- 
town,  herewith  present  their  eighth  annual  report. 

They  would  gratefully  acknowledge  the  loving  protection 
of  the  Heavenly  Father  which  has  guarded  and  blessed  the 
hospital  another  twelve-month.  In  many  respects  the  year 
has  been  to  it  one  of  real  prosperity.  More  patients  have 
shared  in  its  benefits  than  heretofore.  The  whole  number 
treated  during  the  year,  ending  April  1,  1874,  was  five  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four.  The  number  remaining  at  that  date 
was  three  hundred  and  ninety-four.  Of  their  condition,  and 
much  else,  that  is  of  interest  in  their  case,  the  report  of  the 
superintendent  herewith  submitted  contains  valuable  infor- 
mation. In  it  will  be  found  also  important  facts  relative  to 
the  practical  working  of  the  institution. 

The  farm  has  been  well  tilled  and  highly  productive.  Great 
care  has  been  taken  to  increase  its  fertility,  to  make  needed 
improvements,  and  to  keep  all  the  buildings  in  good  repair. 

The  income  of  the  establishment  has  been  managed  with 
economy  and  skill.  The  thorough  and  exact  system  of  keep- 
ing accounts  continues  to  work  satisfactorily,  and  the  bills 
for  current,  as  well  as  all  other  expenses,  have  been  promptly 
met. 

The  commission  appointed  by  the  Governor,  in  accordance 
with  the  terms  of  the  appropriation  made  in  1871  and  in  1872, 
have  completed  their  labors  in  a manner  that  reflects  the 
highest  credit  upon  those  gentlemen,  and  additional  honor 
upon  the  State,  which  can  in  these  days  secure  from  its  citi- 
zens services  of  so  great  value  for  a work  so  important,  pro- 
tracted, and  difficult. 


115 


The  south  wing,  capable  of  accommodating  one  hundred 
and  five  men,  was  completed  and  formally  opened  for  patients 
on  the  6th  day  of  January  last,  in  the  presence  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, the  State  Board  of  Charities,  and  other  distinguished 
citizens.  It  has  afforded  a much-needed  relief  to  a consid- 
erable number  of  patients,  who  had  been  carried  to  hospitals 
out  of  the  State,  and  to  others  whose  insanity  is  recent.  The 
north  wing,  opened  last  year  for  women,  has  been  full  for 
months,  and  it  appears  certain  that  the  south  wing  will  soon 
be  insufficient  for  the  number  of  men  needing  its  care. 

At  no  very  distant  day,  as  the  board  believes,  cottages, 
neat,  attractive,  and  not  too  expensive,  will  be  required,  in 
which  a class  of  quiet  patients  can  enjoy  advantages  of  home- 
like surroundings,  and  those  convalescing  may  be  better  pro- 
pared  to  enter  again  with  comfort  and  safety  the  busy  scenes 
of  life.  This  would  probably  be  the  most  economical  manner 
of  providing  for  patients  when  the  number  shall  exceed  the 
present  capacity  of  the  institution. 

It  is  due  to  the  officers  and  attendants  of  the  hospital  to 
say  that  they  have  continued  to  perform  their  daily  duties  in 
a manner  so  conscientious  and  discreet,  and  with  so  much 
tact,  as  to  deserve  a full  measure  of  commendation  and  con- 
fidence. 

It  is  fitting  in  this  connection  to  mention  our  common  loss, 
when,  in  January  last,  death  suddenly  took  from  the  superin- 
tendent his  estimable  wife,  deprived  the  family  of  her 
friendly,  cheerful,  and  healthful  influence,  and  the  patients  of 
the  enjoyment  of  her  admirable  musical  gifts  in  conducting 
the  service  of  song  in  the  chapel. 

As  the  buildings  have  now  been  completed  after  the  origi- 
nal plan,  and  the  institution  is  free  from  debt,  the  trustees 
desire  to  say  that  they  hold  in  grateful  remembrance  the  suc- 
cessive legislatures  which  gave  the  charter  in  1866,  and 
voted  always  the  full  appropriations  asked  for  by  the  board 
to  carry  out  the  humane  design  of  the  charter  — appropria- 
tions that  have  in  the  aggregate  been  much  larger  than,  at 
the  outset,  any  one  anticipated. 

10 


146 


The  good  people  of  this  State  also  have  shown  an  intelli- 
gent and  generous  appreciation  of,  and  a steadily  increasing 
interest  in  this  enterprise,  as  they  have  learned  its  necessity, 
and  observed  its  beneficent  working.  Nor  would  we  fail  to 
mention  the  many  wealthy  and  influential  citizens  who,  not- 
withstanding the  cost,  have,  when  difficulties  were  greatest, 
encouraged  the  board  to  go  forward,  and  have  steadily  aided 
to  insure  success. 

To  all  these  we  tender  our  hearty  thanks,  in  behalf  of 
hundreds  of  afflicted  men  and  women,  who  were  poor  and 
ready  to  perish  from  disease  and  mental  weakness;  but  who 
have  now  been  warmed  and  fed,  and  tenderly  cared  for  under 
this  roof,  whereby  many  of  them  have  been  restored  to  their 
right  mind. 

We  regard  this  institution  as  an  honor  to  Connecticut.  In 
no  State,  as  we  believe,  are  patients  like  these  receiving  med- 
ical treatment  more  scientific,  considerate,  or  successful,  or 
care  from  attendants  more  intelligent,  kind-hearted,  and 
faithful. 

The  hospital  asks  for  no  appropriation  this  year.  We 
would  recommend  that  the  name  be  changed  to  “ The  Con- 
necticut Hospital  for  the  Insane.” 

The  official  terms  of  the  members  of  this  board  from  New 
London  and  Windham  counties  expire  in  1874. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 


CHARLES  R.  INGERSOLL, 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 
JOSEPH  D.  BATES, 
RICHARD  S.  FELLOWES, 
HENRY  WOODWARD, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 
SAMUEL  LYNES,  M.D., 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 
JULIUS  HOTCHKISS, 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS, 


New  Haven . 
Colchester . 
Danielsonville . 
New  Haven. 
Middletown . 
Norfolk . 
Norwalk . 
Windsor. 
Tolland . 
Middletown . 

u 

a 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


Gentlemen,  — I have  the  honor  to  submit  the  eighth  an- 
nual report  of  the  General  Hospital  for  the  Insane  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  together  with  comprehensive  statistical 
tables,  arranged  in  uniformity  with  those  adopted  by  “The 
Association  of  Medical  Superintendents  of  American  Institu- 
tions for  the  Insane.” 

The  official  year,  ending  March  31,  1874,  has  been  one  of 
peculiar  interest.  During  this  period  you  have  witnessed  the 
completion  of  the  hospital,  so  far  as  the  plan  was  adopted  by 
the  proper  authorities,  in  1866. 

For  the  first  time  in  its  history,  this  institution  has  been  in 
condition  to  receive  promptly  all  applicants  of  both  sexes. 
As  a result  the  number  of  persons  admitted  and  discharged, 
and  the  total  number  under  treatment  exceeds  that  of  any 
previous  year. 

Referring  to  the  tables,  it  will  be  noticed  that  there  were 
remaining  two  hundred  and  seventy-one  (271)  patients  at  the 
date  of  the  last  annual  report,  of  whom  one  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  (138)  were  males,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  (133)  were  females ; ninety -three  (93)  males  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty  (160)  females  have  since  been  admitted, 
making  a total  of  five  hundred  and  twenty-four  (524)  per- 
sons who  have  received  custodial  or  curative  treatment.  The 
disparity  of  admissions  in  the  sexes  is  explained  by  the  fact  that 
during  the  first  few  months  of  the  official  year  male  patients 
could  be  received  only  when  vacancies  occurred  by  death, 
discharge,  or  removal.  The  daily  average  was  339.51.  Of 
the  one  hundred  and  thirty  (130)  persons  who  were  dis- 
charged, thirty-seven  (sixteen  men  and  twenty-one  women) 
were  regarded  as  recovered ; thirty  (nine  men  and  twenty- 


143 


one  women)  were  so  much  improved  that  they  were  permit- 
ted to  go  home  on  trial,  and  have  since,  in  nearly  all  in- 
stances, become  fully  restored  ; twenty-eight  (thirteen  men 
and  fifteen  women)  mild  chronic  cases  were  removed  before 
the  completion  of  the  new  wings,  to  make  room  for  others. 
The  deaths  were  thirty-five  (eighteen  men  and  seventeen 
women)  which  is  equal  to  6.67  per  cent,  of  the  total  number 
under  treatment.  It  is  worthy  of  special  remark,  that  one- 
fourth  of  those  who  died  had  passed  beyond  the  time  allotted 
to  man,  and  twelve  of  the  remaining  number  were  between 
fifty  and  seventy  years  of  age;  the  average  was  51.74  years, 
which  is  considerably  above  the  mean  average  of  past  years. 
There  were  eighteen  (18)  deaths  among  two  hundred  and 
thirty-one  (231)  male  patients  and  seventeen  (17)  among 
two  hundred  and  ninety-three  (293)  female  patients.  One 
person  died  two  days  after  admission,  one,  three,  one,  six, 
two,  thirteen,  two,  fourteen,  and  one,  fifteen  ; but  the  major- 
ity of  deaths  were  the  result  of  degenerative  changes,  inci- 
dent to  long-continued  mental  disease. 

Referring  to  Table  No.  XXVIII,  you  observe  that  of  three 
hundred  and  ninety-four  (394)  patients  remaining  at  this  date, 
only  thirty-five  (35)  are  considered  curable.  This  opinion  is 
based  upon  the  fact  that  in  three  hundred  and  fifty-nine  (359), 
the  disease  has  already  lasted  from  two  to  forty  years.  It  is 
discouraging  to  contemplate  that  such  a large  proportion  will 
probably  continue  more  or  less  deranged  during  life,  when 
perhaps  a majority  of  these  might  have  been  cured  if  promptly 
submitted  to  hospital  treatment. 

It  is  reasonable  to  presume  that  the  number  of  admissions 
during  the  past  year  is  a fair  criterion  of  what  may  be  expected 
in  future.  Assuming  that  the  discharges  and  deaths  of  the 
next  twelve  months  will  equal  those  of  the  past,  and  that  the 
admissions  continue  in  the  same  ratio,  a little  calculation  dem- 
onstrates that  the  hospital,  which  has  accommodations  only 
for  four  hundred  and  fifty  (450)  patients  will  be  crowded  to 
its  full  capacity  before  the  expiration  of  another  year.  It 
will  then  be  necessary  to  delay  admissions  until  vacancies  oc- 


149 


cur,  or  to  send  the  quiet,  harmless  chronic  patients  to  the 
almshouse  (a  possibility  that  I shudder  to  contemplate)  to 
make  room  for  acute  cases  who  come  to  us  from  the  laboring 
and  active  classes  of  life. 

At  this  date  Connecticut  may  well  be  proud  of  the  position 
which  she  occupies  in  providing  for  her  dependent  classes. 
Reliable  information  from  town  and  judicial  officers  discloses 
the  gratifying  fact  that  all , or  nearly  all,  of  the  insane  poor 
have  been  removed  from  jails  and  almshouses  to  this  institu- 
tion, while  the  Retreat  at  Hartford,  with  its  well-furnished 
apartments,  affords  accommodations  to  those  who  are  able  to 
pay  liberally  for  care  and  treatment.  Now,  before  the  actual 
pressure  begins  to  be  felt,  would  it  not  be  wise  to  consider 
what  future  provision  will  be  required  for  the  insane  of  Con- 
necticut ? 

A public  institution  of  this  kind,  erected,  owned,  and  gov- 
erned by  the  State,  should  be  open  and  accessible  to  every 
citizen  of  the  State  who  needs  its  protecting  care.  In  theory 
class  distinctions  are  unknown ; the  rich  and  the  poor,  the 
learned  and  the  ignorant,  alike  become  insane  and  require 
custodial  treatment  — in  a majority  of  cases  away  from  home. 
In  actual  practice  thus  far  the  policy  has  been  to  favor  the 
poor  and  indigent. 

By  referring  to  Table  No.  X you  observe  that  of  the  two 
hundred  and  fifty- three  (253)  persons  admitted  during  the 
year  two  hundred  and  twelve  (212)  were  supported  wholly  or 
in  part  by  the  State  and  towns,  while  only  forty-one  (41)  were 
able  to  pay  their  own  expenses.  This  distinction  in  favor  of 
the  poor  ig  still  more  evident  when  you  consider  the  class 
of  admissions  from  the  opening  of  the  hospital  in  1868.  Of 
the  eight  hundred  and  ninety-six  (896)  admitted  since  the 
beginning  seven  hundred  and  ninety -nine  (799)  were  bene- 
ficiaries and  only  ninety-seven  (97)  self-supporting. 

It  will  be  perceived  (Table  No.  IY)  that  four  persons 
were  admitted  during  the  year  who  were  not  insane.  To  re- 
lieve the  fears  of  any  nervous  or  over-anxious  reader  of  this 
report  who  has  perhaps  spent  many  sleepless  nights  in  useless 


150 


suspicions  after  reading  “ Hard  Cash  ” or  listening  to  the 
plausible  harangue  of  some  pretentious  lecturer,  who  by 
touching  upon  this  sensitive  cord  of  the  public  mind  succeeds 
in  filling  the  otherwise  empty  seats.  I would  explain  that 
one  of  the  four  was  a convict  from  Wethersfield  prison  who 
feigned  insanity  in  order  to  effect  a transfer  to  this  hospital 
in  expectation  that  he  could  easily  escape  from  his  lawful 
punishment!  After  a few  months5  residence  here  he  was  re- 
turned to  his  proper  place.  The  second,  a boy  of  fourteen 
years,  after  having  burned  several  barns  and  a church,  was 
brought  to  us  from  the  Bridgeport  jail  to  be  placed  under  ob- 
servation for  the  purpose  of  determining  definitely  his  mental 
condition.  It  was  soon  evident  that  he  was  simply  a cun- 
ning, unprincipled  lad  who  needed  the  disciplinary  teaching 
of  the  Meriden  Reform  School,  to  which  he  was  duly  sent. 
The  third  was  also  a case  in  which  a medico-legal  question 
was  involved.  The  last  of  these  “not  insane55  cases,  a 
woman  of  intemperate  habits  and  ungovernable  temper,  who 
was  sent  here  by  the  town  authorities,  only  remained  two 
days.  Thus  it  appears  that  none  of  the  four  were  placed 
here  “ to  get  rid  of  them.55  On  the  contrary,  they  had  com- 
mitted crimes  and  were  trying  to  evade  justice.  I hope  the 
time  may  soon  come  when  the  public  will  have  such  confi- 
dence in  the  board  of  trustees  and  the  resident  officers  of  the 
hospital  that  the  fact  of  a person  being  detained  at  the  insti- 
tution for  any  great  period  of  time  will  be  accepted  as  con- 
clusive proof  of  his  or  her  insanity  and  proper  detention. 
Before  leaving  this  subject  I desire  to  place  on  record  a 
statement  founded  upon  an  experience  of  thirteen  years  and 
embracing  the  care  and  treatment  of  2,000  insane  persons  in 
four  different  States:  I have  not  known  a case  of  so-called 
“ false  imprisonment 55  in  a hospital  or  asylum,  neither  have 
I had  reason  to  suspect  improper  motives  on  the  part  of 
friends  or  public  officers.  Nearly  all  doubts  and  difficulties 
in  any  particular  case  grow  out  of  the  peculiarities  of  the 
case  itself  and  ignorance  respecting  the  nature  of  insanity. 

It  is  generally  supposed  that  an  insane  person  must  neces- 


151 


sarily  rave,  destroy,  and  disturb.  This  popular  appreciation 
of  insanity  is  shown  by  the  questions  daily  asked  by  visitors 
who  desire  to  see  those  patients  who  are  “ really  crazy ,” 
meaning,  of  course,  cases  of  acute  mania.  Persons  familiar 
with  hospitals  soon  learn  that  the  proportion  of  “ crazy  ” pa- 
tients is  very  small,  and  that  the  majority  of  all  under  treat- 
ment after  the  acute  stage  has  passed  are  more  or  less  quiet 
and  rational,  able  to  eat  and  sleep,  and  to  do  various  kinds  of 
work  the  same  as  other  persons.  Many  may  have  suicidal, 
homicidal,  or  extravagant  propensities,  which  are  kept  in 
check  by  the  watchful  care  of  attendants  and  the  regularity 
of  institution  life. 

A hospital  is  doing  its  legitimate  work  as  much  in  this  way 
as  it  is  when  managing  a dangerous  and  destructive  maniac. 
Those  who  think  differently  might  as  well  claim  that  a phy- 
sician should  only  be  called  to  the  sick  when  dangerously  ill. 
There  are  various  degrees  and  forms  of  insanity,  no  two  pre- 
senting the  same  exact  characteristics.  The  restlessness  and 
complaining  spirit  which  is  manifested  by  a proportion  of  pa- 
tients is  the  result  of  disease,  and  not  of  confinement.  This 
is  shown  by  the  fact  that  at  home  they  were  even  more 
uneasy,  and  also  that  under  proper  treatment  at  hospital  they 
recover  from  this  manifestation,  wdiich  is  merely  one  symp- 
tom of  the  disease.  We  are  apt  to  forget  that  persons  be- 
come insane  at  home  and  not  at  the  hospital,  or,  in  other 
words,  that  the  causes  which  produced  the  insanity  in  any 
given  case  were  existing  at  home. 

The  cares,  anxieties,  and  responsibilities  of  domestic  life, 
especially  among  the  poor,  incompatibility  of  temper,  uncon- 
genial work,  poverty  of  diet,  and  irregular  habits  are  all  suffi- 
cient to  produce  mental  derangement  in  a person  already  de- 
bilitated. Hence,  when  removed  to  hospital,  where  regularity 
of  diet,  hours  of  exercise  and  repose,  and  attention  to  physical 
and  moral  treatment  can  be  had,  restoration  is  the  natural 
consequence.  The  earlier  the  change  is  made  the  greater  is 
the  hope  of  cure.  Often  influenced  by  the  opinions  of  offi- 
cious neighbors  and  irresponsible  busybodies,  the  friends  de- 


152 


lay  sending  the  loved  one  from  home  so  long  as  they  can 
manage  to  keep  her  there ; finally,  after  months  or  years  of 
dallying,  when  the  disease  has  become  chronic,  they  take  her 
to  a hospital  and  wonder  why  a cure  is  not  effected. 

We  have  been  annoyed  by  the  admission  of  several  pa- 
tients who  were  committed  on  the  order  of  police  courts  or 
justices  of  the  peace.  The  statute  which  authorizes  such 
commitments  is  defective;  it  does  not  determine  who  is  re- 
sponsible for  the  payment  of  hospital  bills  in  such  cases.  If 
the  selectmen  were  not  consulted  before  the  commitment  by 
the  police  court  they  generally  refuse  to  acknowledge  the  in- 
debtedness and  refer  us  for  payment  to  the  Comptroller  and 
his  excellency  the  Governor.  I do  not  find  any  statute  which 
would  authorize  the  approval  of  such  bills.  Thus  far  the 
hospital  has  obtained  payment  through  the  approval  of  the 
chief  magistrate  of  the  State. 

I would  suggest  that  an  effort  be  made  to  secure  the 
enactment  of  a proper  statute  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  such  cases. 

Notwithstanding  the  unsettled  condition  of  financial  ques- 
tions, and  the  resulting  uncertainty  in  business  matters,  the 
regular  income  from  State,  towns,  and  individuals  has  been 
sufficient  to  meet  all  our  wants  and  to  enable  us  to  continue 
improvements  on  the  farm  and  about  the  buildings.  The 
plan  adopted  eighteen  months  ago  of  making  all  purchases 
for  cash  works  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties.  By  referring 
to  the  financial  statement,  herewith  presented,  you  will 
observe  that  the  hospital  received  from  all  sources  (including 
balance  with  treasurer,  $1,583.98,  and  cash  on  hand,  $227.84, 
April  1,  1873),  the  sum  of  ninety-two  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  seventy-nine  dollars  and  two  cents  ($92,879.02), 
and  that  the  total  expenditures  during  the  same  period,  as 
per  vouchers  audited  monthly  by  the  finance  committee,  were 
eighty-seven  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty-four  dollars 
and  twenty-nine  cents  ($87,984.29),  leaving  a balance  of 
$1,499.30  with  treasurer,  and  $3,395.43  cash  on  hand. 

For  special  details  respecting  farm  labor  and  its  results,  I 


153 


would  refer  you  to  some  interesting  facts,  properly  tabulated 
by  Mr.  Weatherbee,  who  has  efficiently  conducted  the  farm- 
ing operations  during  the  past  five  years.  In  this  connection 
I would  again  bear  testimony  to  the  great  value  of  out-door 
labor  as  an  auxiliary  means  of  treatment  in  mental  disease. 
The  old  adage,  respecting  idle  hands,  applies  to  the  occupants 
of  an  institution  for  the  insane,  and  I have  often  thought 
that  many  lives  were  saved  and  minds  restored  to  usefulness 
by  judiciously  disturbing  the  languor  which  usually  accom- 
panies chronic  insanity.  This  kind  of  work  is  not  generally 
profitable,  and  to  develop  it  requires  peculiar  adaptation  in 
those  who  have  the  immediate  care  of  such  persons.  A 
pleasant  smile  and  an  encouraging  word  will  sometimes 
induce  a patient  to  perform  manual  labor  which,  in  the  end, 
may  aid  in  his  restoration  to  health. 

It  may  be  a matter  of  surprise  to  those  who  are  not  famil- 
iar with  the  daily  life  and  habits  of  the  insane  in  hospitals, 
to  learn  that  a large  proportion  of  all  male  patients  at  this 
institution  have  been  employed  about  the  farm  or  buildings 
under  slight  supervision,  or  were  allowed  the  liberty  of  the 
grounds,  during  the  summer  months,  unattended.  The  fol- 
lowing tables,  showing  the  relative  number  in  each  year? 
were  carefully  prepared  by  Dr.  Hallock  : 

1869,  average  number  present,  109.  No.  at  large,  29.  Percent,  at  large,  26.6 


1870, 

do. 

do. 

do. 

115. 

do. 

do. 

35. 

do. 

do 

30.4 

1871, 

do. 

do. 

do. 

120. 

do. 

do. 

37. 

do. 

do. 

30  8 

1872, 

do. 

do. 

do. 

131. 

do. 

do. 

55. 

do. 

do. 

42.0 

An  additional  number,  who  were  considered  safe  to  be  at 
liberty,  but  for  various  reasons  (lameness,  old  age,  dementia, 
etc.)  remained  in  the  house  or  airing  courts,  is  shown  by  the 
following  statement : 

1869,  there  were  . . 19.  1871,  there  were  . . 23 

1870,  do.  . . 20.  1872,  do.  . . 22 

By  adding  together  the  above  tables,  the  total  number  who 
were  in  condition  to  be  trusted  with  their  freedom,  needing 
no  supervision  whatever,  so  far  as  elopement  is  concerned, 
will  be  as  follows  : 


154 


1869,  No.  present,  109.  No.  at  large,  29  added  to  19,  total,  48.  Perct.,  44.0 


1870, 

do. 

115. 

do. 

35 

do. 

20, 

do. 

55. 

do. 

47.7 

1871, 

do. 

120. 

do. 

37 

do. 

23, 

do. 

60. 

do. 

50.0 

1872, 

do. 

181. 

do. 

55 

do. 

22, 

do. 

77. 

do. 

58.7 

Of  the  number  actually  at  liberty,  without  supervision, 
only  two  needed  restraint  at  intervals,  on  account  of  periodi- 
cal excitement. 

The  value  of  custodial  treatment  is  demonstrated  by  these 
facts ; we  know  from  actual  experience  that  the  regularity  of 
hospital  life  is  sufficient  to  keep  many  of  the  above-mentioned 
persons  within  the  limits  of  self-control ; and  that  when  re- 
stored to  full  freedom  at  home  (a  frequent  occurrence),  they 
soon  go  beyond  the  limits,  and  are  returned  to  us  in  a worse 
condition  than  at  first. 

Owing  to  the  unfinished  condition  of  the  grounds,  and  the 
presence  of  many  workmen  employed  about  the  new  wings, 
we  have  not  tested  the  question  of  relative  trustfulness  be- 
tween males  and  females.  My  impression,  formed  from  gen- 
eral observation,  is,  that  a much  smaller  number  of  the 
latter  class  can  be  trusted  with  liberty.  The  disease  appears 
to  develop  more  of  the  restless  and  unruly  elements  in  her 
organization ; she  is  less  contented  with  her  surroundings 
and  treatment,  and  more  desirous  of  attention  from  officers 
and  visitors ; then,  too,  it  is  more  difficult  to  provide  employ- 
ment adapted  to  each  case. 

I trust  that  you  will  not  consider  it  inappropriate  for  me 
to  refer  to  the  unfinished  condition  of  the  grounds  immedi- 
ately surrounding  the  hospital.  As  building  operations  have 
terminated,  now  would  seem  to  be  the  proper  time  to  com- 
mence the  work  of  grading  and  systematically  laying  out  the 
walks  and  drives.  A definite  plan  should  be  selected,  and 
the  services  of  an  experienced  landscape  gardener  provided 
for ; nearly  all  of  the  heavy  labor  can  be  performed  by  our 
regular  working  force.  The  importance  of  this  matter  is  so 
obvious  that  I need  not  offer  special  reasons  therefor. 

A variety  of  evening  entertainments,  consisting  of  lectures, 
readings,  concerts,  tableaux,  and  dramatic  representations, 


155 


have  been  furnished  during  the  year.  Two  hundred  new 
slides  were  purchased  and  used  in  the  stereopticon  with 
gratifying  results. 

It  is  my  purpose  to  do  all  that  can  he  done  in  this  direc- 
tion to  relieve  the  tedium  of  hospital  life.  In  pursuance  of 
this  plan  many  books  are  added  monthly  to  the  different 
ward  libraries,  and  engravings  hung  upon  the  walls,  when- 
ever the  funds  will  admit.  Early  in  the  year  an  arrange- 
ment was  made  with  the  dealers  to  furnish  daily  all  of  the 


preceding  day’s  papers  remaining  unsold. 

In  addition 

, the 

publishers  of  the  following-named  newspapers  have,  as  here- 
tofore, generously  furnished  copies  regularly  and  gratu- 

itously ; to  all  such  our  acknowledgments  are  due. 

Hartford  Daily  Courant,  .... 

Hartford,  Conn. 

do.  Evening  Post,  .... 

do. 

do. 

do.  Weekly  Times,  .... 

do. 

do. 

Religious  Herald,  ..... 

do. 

do. 

Connecticut  General  Advertiser,  . 

do. 

do. 

New  Haven  Evening  Register, 

New  Haven, 

do. 

do.  Morning  Journal  and  Courier, 

do. 

do. 

do.  Weekly  Palladium,  . 

do. 

do. 

Connecticut  Herald  and  Weekly  Journal, 

do. 

do. 

The  Constitution,  ..... 

Middletown, 

do. 

The  Sentinel  and  Witness, 

do. 

do. 

Norwich  Daily  Advertiser  (part  of  year), 

Norwich, 

do. 

do.  Weekly  Courier, 

do. 

do. 

Tolland  County  Journal,  .... 

Tolland, 

do. 

Bridgeport  Republican  and  Standard, 

Bridgeport, 

do. 

Meriden  Daily  Republican  (part  of  year), 

Meriden, 

do. 

Whitney’s  Musical  Guest, 

Toledo,  Ohio. 

The  Sheltering  Arms  (monthly),  . 

New  York  City. 

Watson’s  Art  Journal,  .... 

do.  do. 

In  addition  to  these  contributions,  the  following  donations 
have  been  received. 


A fine  set  of  Marryatt’s  Novels,  twelve  volumes,  from  A.  B.  Gillette  of 
Hartford.  The  “Surgical  and  Medical  History  of  the  Rebellion/’  from 
Dr.  Samuel  Lynes  of  Norwalk.  Five  dollars  and  a number  of  books  from 
Mr.  Burroughs  of  Middletown.  H.  D.  A Ward,  Esq.,  contributed  a 
complete  set  of  the  New  York  Daily  Graphic  (in  bound  volumes),  together 
with  files  of  old  papers  and  magazines.  As  in  former  years,  Hon.  T.  S- 
Gold,  Secretary  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  has  furnished  volumes 
of  Agricultural  Reports  from  other  States. 


156 


We  are  under  especial  obligations  to  the  following-named 
gentlemen  for  a course  of  seven  interesting  and  highly  in- 
structive lectures : 

President  Cummings,  Wesleyan  University,  on  Foreign  Travels. 

Prof.  Wm.  North  Rice,  do.  do.  on  Glaciers. 

Prof.  C.  T.  Winchester,  do.  do.  on  Oliver  Goldsmith. 

Dr.  C.  L.  Loomis,  Middletown,  two  lectures  on  Southwestern  Africa. 

Rev.  J.  II.  Bradford,  Middletown,  on  Temperance. 

Col.  B.  S Pardee,  New  Haven,  on  Western  Life. 

Early  in  the  summer  a number  of  young  ladies  of  the 
South  Congregational  Church  Sabbath-school  formed  a mis- 
sion for  the  purpose  of  collecting  flowers  and  arranging  bou- 
quets, to  be  sent  to  the  hospital  on  every  Saturday  afternoon. 
The  interest  increased  until  the  whole  school  was  engaged  in 
this  good  work ; as  a result,  our  people  received  and  enjoyed 
weekly  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  beautiful 
bouquets,  which  were  distributed  in  all  the  wards,  sitting- 
rooms,  dining-rooms,  and  parlors.  To  those  who  have  cheer- 
fully devoted  their  time  to  this  benevolent  purpose,  our 
acknowledgments  are  due. 

Since  the  opening,  in  1868,  religious  services  have  been 
held  every  Sabbath  afternoon  at  two  o’clock,  much  to  the 
advantage,  comfort,  and  benefit  of  the  patients,  a large  pro- 
portion of  whom  have  been  present  at  the  services.  No  reg- 
ular chaplain  is  employed.  We  are  therefore  under  greater 
obligations  to  the  reverend  gentlemen  of  Middletown  and 
vicinity  who  have  devoted  their  time  gratuitously  to  this 
work. 

No  changes  have  occurred  in  the  staff  of  officers.  If  expe- 
rience and  length  of  service  adds  to  the  efficiency  of  persons 
engaged  in  ordinary  avocations,  it  must  be  evident  that  labor 
which  requires  special  training  and  peculiar  adaptation  will 
be  more  intelligently  performed  by  those  who  have  devoted 
their  best  energies  for  years  to  the  work. 

In  November  an  increase  of  numbers  necessitated  the 
employment  of  another  medical  officer.  Dr.  Calvin  S.  May, 
of  New  Haven,  a graduate  of  Yale  Medical  School,  was 


157 


chosen  to  fill  the  place,  which  he  has  occupied  since  that 
time.  If  thorough  professional  preparation  and  entire  devo- 
tion to  the  work  are  important  qualifications,  you  are  fortu- 
nate in  having  secured  the  services  of  Dr.  May  as  second 
assistant  physician. 

I am  under  renewed  obligations  to  the  officers,  attendants, 
and  employes  who  have  endeavored,  with  ability,  fidelity,  and 
tact,  to  secure  for  this  institution  a still  greater  measure  of 
usefulness.  Surrounded  by  the  peculiar  difficulties  incident 
to  the  care  of  those  suffering  from  mental  and  moral  devia- 
tions, it  would  be  strange  indeed  if  we  have  succeeded  in 
satisfying  everybody.  Our  aim  has  been  to  restore  health  by 
proper  medical  and  moral  treatment;  failing  in  this,  to  control, 
protect,  and  provide  for  the  safety,  comfort,  and  well  being 
of  those  committed  to  our  care. 

In  conclusion,  I desire  to  express  my  deep  obligations  to 
the  members  of  your  board,  who,  by  intelligent  co-operation 
and  personal  kindness,  have  greatly  assisted  in  sharing  the 
burdens  of  another  year. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

ABRAM  MARVIN  SHEW, 

Superintendent . 

Middletown,  Conn.,  March  31,  1874. 


REPORT  OF  TREASURER. 


The  following  statement  of  the  fiscal  concerns  of  “The  General  Hospital 
for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,”  for  the  year  commencing 
April  1,  1873,  and  ending  March  31,  1874,  is  respectfully  submitted  to  the 
Board  of  Trustees. 

RECEIPTS. 

Balance  in  hands  of  treasurer,  April  1,  1873,  . . . $1,583.98 

Revenue  account  from  the  hospital,  ....  91,067.20 

Total,  . $92,651.18 


PAYMENTS. 

Amount  of  superintendent’s  orders, 

Balance  in  hands  of  treasurer,  March  31,  1874, 

Total,  . 


. $91,151.88 

1,499.30 

. $92,651.18 


All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 


Middletown,  Conn.,  April  1,  1874. 


M.  B.  COPELAND, 

Treasurer. 


We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  vouchers  and  accounts  of 
the  treasurer,  of  which  the  above  is  an  abstract,  and  find  them  correct. 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS, 

Auditors. 


SUPERINTENDENT’S  FINANCIAL  REPORT. 


1873. 


Dr. 


April  1st. 
1874. 

To  cash  on  hand, 

To  balance  in  bank, 

, $227.84 

. 1,583.98 

March  31. 

To  revenue  (for  year),  . 

Or. 

. 91,067.20 

$92,879.02 

April,  1873. 

By  vouchers,  . 

. $5,988.07 

May,  “ 

ti  tt 

. 5,755  21 

June,  “ 

<<  n 

. 6,976.77 

July,  “ 

n << 

. 7,240.86 

Aug.,  “ 

a n 

. 8,104.47 

Sept.,  “ 

a a 

. 8,951.67 

Oct.,  “ 

a a 

. 7,838.12 

Nov.,  “ 

a a 

. 7,217.23 

Dec.,  “ 

II  It 

. 6,989.40 

Jan.,  1874. 

it  II 

. 7,451.90 

Feb.,  “ 

II  II 

. 7,523.54 

March,  “ 

II  l( 

. 7,947.05 

87,984.29 

Mar.  31,“ 

“ Cash  on  hand, 

3,395.43 

“ Balance  in  bank, 

1,499.30 

$92,879.02 

REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable , the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut : 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  respectfully  present  this  their  Ninth  Annual  Report, 
for  the  year  ending  March  31,  1875. 

The  records  of  the  past  year  show  the  usefulness  of  your 
institution  in  its  care  of  t)05  patients  to  the  first  of  April 
instant.  At  that  date  there  were  450  insane  persons,  from 
all  parts  of  the  State,  in  the  hospital.  The  tabular  state- 
ments, in  the  absence  of  Dr.  Shew,  prepared  by  Dr.  ITallock, 
exhibit  the  usual  details  as  to  patients,  the  phases  of  their 
disease  and  the  success  attending  their  treatment. 

During  the  last  autumn  your  superintendent,  Doctor  Shew, 
was  seized  with  an  illness  which  threatened  to  be  serious  and 
permanent.  Medical  advisers  and  friends  concurred  with 
your  trustees  that  an  absolute  respite  from  care  for  some 
months  was  a necessity.  His  record  of  faithful  devotion  to 
the  hospital,  from  a period  before  the  foundations  of  it  were 
laid,  was  almost  a rebuke  to  us  that  we  had  not  earlier  in- 
sisted upon  his  taking  his  regular  annual  vacations.  This 
forced  one  was  voted,  by  a full  board  unanimously.  From 
letters  received  from  him  we  are  encouraged  to  believe  that 
his  relief  from  care  will  produce  a permanent  cure,  and  that 
in  June  he  will  return  to  his  post. 

His  absence  would  have  been  more  seriously  felt  by  the  hos- 
pital but  for  the  able  helpers  left  in  charge, — Dr.  Hallock  and 
Dr.  May,  the  assistant  physicians,  also  the  matron  and  assist- 
ant matron,  who  have  all  faithfully  and  loyally  devoted  them- 
selves to  carrying  on  the  established  system  of  the  work. 
The  clerk  and  the  farmer  have  been  no  less  faithful  in  their 


161 


departments,  and  have  deservedly  gained  regard  and  con- 
fidence. 

We  are  the  more  particular  to  mention  the  above,  as  in 
Dr.  Sliew’s  absence  all  have  shown  interest  in  the  harmoni- 
ous working  of  the  hospital,  worthy  of  praise. 

The  special  duties  of  head  of  the  institution,  during  the 
absence  of  the  superintendent,  were  devolved,  by  vote  of  the 
board  in  December  last,  on  our  co-trustee,  the  Hon.  H.  Sid- 
ney Hayden  of  Hartford  County,  from  whom  the  trustees 
have  received  the  following  communication  : 

“The  commissioners  employed  in  the  erection  of  the  new 
north  and  south  wings  reported  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
1874,  that  after  the  completion  of  their  work,  there  remained 
in  hand  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  With  this 
money  they  proposed  to  erect  a suitable  mortuary  building  to 
form  a lodge  and  gateway  at  the  north  entrance  to  the  hospi- 
tal grounds  on  Silver  street.  This  work  has  been  now  com- 
pleted.” 

Annexed  is  presented  the  certificate  of  E.  W.  Moore,  that 
vouchers  for  the  full  amount  of  the  appropriation,  namely,  for 
one  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars,  have  been  presented 
and  found  correct. 

“ The  commissioners  having  completed  the  lodge  and  gate- 
way, advantage  was  taken  of  the  delightful  fall  months  of 
October  and  November  to  commence  the  first  systematic  effort 
to  grade  the  grounds  of  the  hospital.  The  plans  for  grading 
have  been  furnished  and  the  work  will  be  carried  on  this 
year.” 

It  has  been  very  gratifying  to  those  to  whom  you  have  in- 
trusted this  benevolent  institution,  to  observe  the  lively  re- 
gard which  it  receives  from  the  officers  of  the  towns,  who 
have  the  duty  of  sending  patients  to  it,  and  of  punctually 
paying  the  charges  for  their  maintenance.  The  good  which 
the  institution  has  done  and  is  doing,  and  the  evils  which  it 
has  averted,  seem  to  have  made  a favorable  impression,  of 
which  we  speak  with  high  satisfaction. 

His  Excellency,  the  Governor,  has  placed  in  his  message  a 
11 


162 


number  of  significant  statements  as  to  the  increase  of  insan- 
ity generally  in  the  world,  and  especially  in  this  State.  These 
statements  will  rightly  impress  you  more  than  any  we  can 
make  ; that  increased  accommodations  are  already  needed  is 
only  too  painfully  clear. 

The  responsibility  for  such  increase  is  left  to  the  wisdom 
of  your  honorable  body. 

In  conclusion,  the  trustees  gratefully  acknowledge  the  man- 
• ifest  Divine  favor,  which  has  another  year  crowned  with 
blessing  the  labors  for  those  bereft  of  their  reason. 

The  official  term  of  the  members  of  this  board  from  New 
Haven  and  Middlesex  counties  expires  in  1875. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 


CHARLES  R.  INGERSOLL, 
RICHARD  S.  FELLOWES, 
HENRY  WOODWARD, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 
SAMUEL  LYNES,  M.D., 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 
JOSEPH  D.  BATES, 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 
JULIUS  HOTCHKISS, 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS, 


New  Haven. 

U 

Middletown. 

Norfolk. 

Norwalk. 

Windsor. 

Tolland. 

Colchester. 

Danielsonville. 

Middletown. 

cc 

u 


Comptroller’s  Office,  State  of  Connecticut, 
Hartford,  May  6,  1875. 

I hereby  certify,  that  I have  examined  the  bills  and  vouchers  presented 
by  the  commissioners,  for  the  erection  of  the  new  north  and  south  wings 
of  the  “Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane,”  at  Middletown,  and  find 
the  same  amount  to  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars 
($180,000),  to  be  correct. 


E.  W.  MOORE. 


REPORT  OF  ACTING  SUPERINTEND- 
ENT. 


I have  the  honor  to  lay  before  you  the  following  report,  ex- 
hibiting the  operations  of  the  hospital  for  the  year  ending 
March  31,  1875,  together  with  the  usual  statistical  tables 
after  the  forms  adopted  by  the  Association  of  Medical  Super- 
intendents. 


Number  of  patients  at  the  beginning  of  the 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

year, 

175 

220 

395 

Admitted  in  the  year, 

122 

88 

210 

Whole  number  treated,  .... 

297 

308 

605 

Discharged,  ....... 

78 

77 

155 

— 

- — 

— _ 

Remaining,  ....... 

219 

231 

450 

Average  present  during  the  year, 

198.63 

227.17 

425.80 

During  the  year  forty-one  patients  were  discharged  recov- 
ered, forty-four  improved,  thirty-four  stationary,  and  thirty- 
six  died. 

The  following  table  shows  the  admissions  and  discharges 
from  the  beginning  of  the  hospital : 


Total  number  of  patients  admitted, 1,106 

Total  number  discharged, — recovered,  ....  194 

Total  number  discharged, — improved, 145 

Total  number  discharged, — stationary,  ....  153 

Total  number  of  patients  died, 164 

656 

Number  remaining,  450 


164 


SUMMARY  OF  FACTS  AND  GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 

Of  the  1,106  patients  admitted  since  the  opening  of  the 
hospital,  124  have  been  private  or  paying;  336  indigent  or 
partly  self-supporting ; and  646  have  been  of  the  pauper  class. 

The  ratio  of  recoveries  and  deaths  is  about  the  same  as 
last  year. 

The  proportion  recovered  of  all  under  treatment  was 
something  over  six  per  cent.;  last  year  it  was  seven  per  cent. 

The  proportion  of  deaths  of  all  under  care  was  a little  less 
than  six  per  cent.;  last  year  it  was  a trifle  over  six  per  cent. 

The  ratio  of  deaths  of  the  average  number  present  was 
eight  and  a half  per  cent.;  last  year  it  was  a little  over  ten 
per  cent. 

During  the  past  year,  especially  the  last  quarter,  the 
amount  of  sickness  has  been  greater  than  previously ; yet 
notwithstanding  this  fact  the  death  rate  is  less  this  year  than 
last  by  nearly  two  per  cent.  Among  the  employes  there  has 
also  been  considerable  sickness,  necessitating  the  employ- 
ment of  more  than  the  usual  amount  of  help. 

The  internal  affairs  of  the  institution  have  gone  on 
throughout  the  year  uninterrupted  by  any  accident,  or  other 
event  worthy  of  special  mention. 

The  cottages  continue  to  be  occupied  and  serve  a useful 
purpose.  These  buildings,  owing  to  age  and  original  frailty, 
require  considerable  yearly  outlays  to  keep  them  in  repair 
and  in  a good  sanitary  condition. 

The  new  south  (male)  wing,  which  was  opened  in  January, 
1874,  became  filled  with  its  complement  of  patients  in  Feb- 
ruary last,  thirteen  months  from  the  date  of  opening.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  the  new  north  (female)  wing  was 
wholly  occupied  in  just  one  year  from  the  time  it  was  opened, 
and  that  soon  after  female  applicants  had  to  go  upon  a wait- 
ing period  or  were  referred  to  other  hospitals.  A like  con- 
dition of  things  will  soon  be  experienced  on  the  male  side  of 
the  house.  So  far,  however,  since  that  wing  became  full, 
vacancies  have  occurred  as  fast  as  new  patients  have  arrived. 


165 


During  the  year  there  were  transferred  to  the  hospital 
from  the  prison  at  Wethersfield,  three  “ insane”  convicts. 
After  an  extended  observation,  however,  two  of  them  were 
found  to  be  malingerers,  and  their  cases  were  accordingly 
reported  upon  to  the  Governor,  who  remanded  them  back  to 
prison.  The  number  of  insane  convicts  now  in  hospital  is 
eight. 

Weekly  amusements  and  entertainments  have  taken  place 
as  usual.  In  addition  to  the  stereopticon  exhibitions  and 
dances,  we  have  had,  under  the  management  of  Dr.  May 
and  Mrs.  Dutton,  several  readings,  concerts,  theatricals,  etc., 
taken  part  in  by  our  own  employes.  These  have  been  very 
successful  and  much  enjoyed  by  the  patients. 

We  are  under  obligations  to  Miss  Chapman  of  Middletown, 
for  an  evening  entertainment  of  select  readings ; to  Messrs. 
Coleman,  Arnold,  Van  Buren,  and  Craik  of  the  Berkeley 
Divinity  School,  for  a vocal  concert ; to  Dr.  C.  L.  Loomis  of 
Middletown,  for  two  interesting  lectures  (illustrated),  en- 
titled “The  Wings  of  Thought;”  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Greeley 
of  New  Hampshire,  for  two  lectures  on  scenes  and  events 
connected  with  our  late  civil  war. 

The  publishers  of  the  following  named  newspapers  have 
continued  to  furnish  copies  regularly  and  gratuitously  : 


Hartford  Daily  Courant, 

. Hartford, 

Conn. 

do.  Evening  Post, 

do. 

do. 

do.  Weekly  Times, 

do. 

do. 

Religious  Herald,  .... 

do. 

do. 

Connecticut  General  Advertiser, 

do. 

do. 

New  Haven  Evening  Register, 

. New  Haven, 

do. 

do.  Morning  Journal  and  Courier,  . 

do. 

do. 

do.  Weekly  Palladium, 

do. 

do. 

Connecticut  Herald  and  Weekly  Journal, 

do. 

do. 

do.  Weekly  Journal,  . 

do. 

do. 

Weekly  State  Journal, 

do. 

do. 

The  Constitution,  .... 

. Middletown, 

do. 

The  Sentinel  and  Witness, 

do. 

do. 

The  Republican  and  Standard, 

. Bridgeport, 

do. 

Connecticut  Western  News  (most  of  the  year), 

. Salisbury, 

do. 

The  Sheltering  Arms,  .... 

. New  York  city. 

Watson’s  Art  Journal, 


do. 


do. 


166 


The  following  contributions  have  been  received : 

From  Rev.  R.  T.  Thorne,  Middletown,  Conn.,  several  copies  weekly  of 
the  Parish  Visitor;  Mrs.  E.  B.  Monroe,  Southport,  Conn.,  pamphlets  and 
books;  Mrs.  H.  S.  Hayden,  Windsor,  14  bound  volumes  Harper’s  Maga- 
zine; J.  W.  Bradley,  Philadelphia,  books  and  engravings  to  the  value  of 
one  hundred  dollars;  Mrs.  Perry,  Southport,  Conn.,  papers  and  maga- 
zines; Rev.  Mr.  Graeber,  Meriden,  Conn.,  German  Bibles  and  books; 
Chas.  H.  Kent,  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  illustrated  papers;  Mrs.  Gorham,  Wil- 
ton, Conn.,  four  dollars  cash  for  library  of  7th  hall,  north;  George  H. 
Hulbert,  Esq.,  Middletown,  Conn.,  the  Independent  and  the  Advance; 
Mrs.  Benj.  Douglas,  Middletown,  Conn.,  Fashion  Magazines;  Col.  Benj. 
S.  Pardee,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  several  pots  of  choice  plants;  A.  Van 
Name,  Librarian  of  Yale  College,  a large  number  of  London  Illustrated 
papers;  Miss  Stowe,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  decorations  for  ward  parlor; 
Miss  Green,  Mass.,  flower  vases  for  ward  parlor;  A.  B.  Gillette,  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  three  valuable  fowls;  Hon.  T.  S.  Gold,  Secretary  State 
Board  of  Agriculture,  several  volumes  of  Agricultural  Reports  from 
other  States. 

We  are  under  special  obligation  to  the  South  Congrega- 
tional Sabbath  School  “ Flower  Mission  ” for  their  very  valu- 
able weekly  gift  of  flowers  to  the  hospital  during  the  past 
summer. 

Religious  services  have  been  held  on  every  Sabbath,  con- 
ducted by  clergymen  of  Middletown  and  students  of  the 
Berkeley  Divinity  School ; also,  occasionally,  by  students  of 
Wesleyan  University.  To  these  gentlemen  we  would  express 
our  sincere  thanks. 

Rev.  Father  O’Brien  of  Middletown  has  on  several  occa- 
sions held  services  on  week  days. 

During  a part  of  the  winter  Dr.  Charles  H.  Langdon  was 
engaged  as  one  of  the  assistant  physicians.  He  left  on  the 
first  of  March  to  assume  a permanent  situation  at  another 
institution.  Since  that  date  the  medical  service  has  been 
performed  by  the  two  medical  officers  present. 

A report  of  the  steward’s  department  will  be  given  in  de- 
tail by  the  clerk. 

The  farm,  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Weatherbee,  has 
been  highly  productive.  For  details  you  are  referred  to  the 
farmer’s  report  herewith  presented. 


167 


The  various  outside  matters,  improvements  begun,  com- 
pleted, and  in  contemplation,  I leave  to  be  presented  by  Mr. 
Hayden,  who  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  them. 

If  not  out  of  place,  I would  mention  with  praise  the  treat- 
ment and  management  of  the  male  patients  by  Dr.  May.  I 
can  speak  in  the  highest  terms  of  his  skill,  tact,  and  judg- 
ment. He  has  also  rendered  valuable  professional  assistance 
on  the  female  side  of  the  house. 

In  closing  this  imperfect  report,  it  remains  to  say  that  to 
Mr.  Hayden  are  due  from  us,  one  and  all,  many  thanks  for 
his  wise  counsel  and  aid  in  our  work,  and  I may  say  it  is 
owing  to  his  good  judgment  and  watchful  care  over  the  insti- 
tution that  it  has  prospered  as  it  has  during  the  absence  of 
the  superintendent. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

W.  B.  HALLOCK. 
Middletown,  Conn.,  March  31, 1875. 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 


The  following  statement  of  the  fiscal  concerns  of  The  Connecticut 
Hospital  for  the  Insane,  for  the  year  commencing  April  1,  1874,  and  end- 
ing March  31,  1875,  is  respectfully  submitted  to  the  board  of  trustees: 


Receipts. 


Balance  in  hands  of  Treasurer,  April  1,  1874,  . 
Revenue  Account  from  the  Hospital,  . 


Payments. 

Amount  of  Superintendent’s  orders, 

Balance  in  hands  of  Treasurer,  March  31,  1875, 


. $1,499.30 

. 119,584.00 

$121,083.30 

. $116,674.85 
4,408.45 


$121,083.30 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

M.  B.  COPELAND, 

Treasurer. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  April  1,  1875. 


We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  vouchers  and  accounts 
of  the  treasurer,  of  which  the  above  is  an  abstract,  and  find  them  correct. 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS, 

Auditors. 


SUPERINTENDENT’S  FINANCIAL  REPORT 


Debtor . 


April  1,  1874. 

To  Cash  on  hand, 

. $3,395.43 

<(  < < 

To  Balance  in  Bank, 

1,499.30 

March  81, 1875. 

To  Revenue  (for  year),  . 

Credit. 

. 118,584.00 

/ 

$123,478.73 

April,  1874.  ] 

By  Vouchers, 

. $9,330.05 

May,  ‘ ‘ 

<<  a 

. 10,820.45 

June,  “ 

(<  a 

. 9,150.82 

July, 

a a 

. 12,506.62 

Aug., 

tt  n 

. 8,004.64 

Sept.,  “ 

a a 

. 8,825.52 

Oct., 

a a 

. 12,320.64 

Nov.,  “ 

a a 

. 10,380.28 

Dec.,  " 

n a 

. 6,869.46 

Jan.,  1875. 

a a 

. 13,171.10 

Feb., 

a a 

. 8,040.38 

March,  “ 

a a 

. 9,213.37 

118,633.33 

Mar.  31,  “ 

“ Cash  on  hand,  . 

436.95 

- 31,  - 

“ Balance  in  Bank, 

4,408.45 

$123,478.73 

EEPOET  OF  TEUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable , the  General  Assembly  of,  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut : 

The  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane 
have  now  the  honor  to  submit  their  tenth  annual  report  to 
the  31st  of  March,  1876,  together  with  the  interesting  and 
suggestive  report  of  the  superintendent,  including  tabulated 
statements  of  admissions,  discharges,  deaths,  nationalities,  etc. 
A description  of  the  hospital  and  its  history  during  its  first 
ten  years,  with  a summary  of  its  benevolent  work,  have  been 
added  in  a separate  article  by  Dr.  Shew. 

The  largest  number  of  patients  on  any  one  day  was  four 
hundred  and  sixty-four  (464).  The  smallest  number  on  any 
one  day  was  four  hundred  and  forty  (440).  These  figures 
show  that  the  hospital  has  been  full  — it  is  only  just  to  say 
crowded , during  the  whole  twelve  months  past. 

Those  in  charge  appreciate  the  desire  of  the  town  officials 
to  have  all  of  their  insane  accommodated,  and  realize  how 
natural  are  expressions  of  disappointment  when,  owing  to  the 
crowded  condition  of  the  wards,  their  special  cases  cannot,  at 
once,  on  the  occasion  of  need,  be  promptly  admitted. 

Patients  are  received  in  turn  according  to  dates  of  applica- 
tion. There  are  now  fourteen  (14)  waiting  for  room  on  the 
male  side,  and  fifty-one  (51)  for  the  female  department. 

The  question  of  the  future  provision  of  accommodation  for 
the  insane  is  an  important  and  interesting  one  to  every  legis- 
lator and  benevolent  man. 


171 


Daring  the  year  Miss  Dix  acceded  to  the  wishes  of  your 
board  for  a likeness  of  herself,  and  generously  gave  to  the 
hospital  an  oil  portrait,  richly  framed.  It  hangs  in  the 
trustees’  room,  and  is  a beautiful  reminder  of  her  continued 
interest  in  the  prosperity  of  the  Connecticut  institution,  which 
in  its  inception  owed  so  much  to  her  wise  counsel  and  self- 
sacrificing  efforts  to  secure  its  successful  organization. 

A large  amount  of  w^ork  has  been  done  in  grading  the 
grounds  in  front  of  the  buildings,  and  a much-needed  enlarge- 
ment has  been  made  to  the  laundry  and  boiler  house,  which 
has  added  sleeping  rooms  for  the  work  people,  a reading 
room,  repair  shop,  etc.,  etc. 

The  hospital  income  has  sufficed  to  meet  the  ordinary 
expenses  and  repairs  of  the  institution,  and  to  make  the  above 
improvements.  The  report  of  the  treasurer  is  appended  to 
this. 

The  attention  of  the  legislature  is  respectfully  called  to  the 
fact  that  in  some  instances,  the  poor  of  a town  have  been 
“ farmed,”  outside  of  its  borders,  to  other  towns.  Difficulties 
have  thereby  arisen  in  collecting  dues  from  contractors,  and 
several  hundred  dollars  are  in  arrears,  which  your  hospital 
would  have  received  but  for  the  complications  growing  out  of 
the  practice  here  complained  of. 

It  is  a satisfaction  to  acknowledge  the  almost  universal 
promptness  with  which  the  town  officials  have  paid  the  bills 
of  the  patients. 

Our  physicians  and  other  resident  officers  have  been  faithful 
in  their  duties. 

It  should  be  mentioned  in  this  report,  that  there  are  forty 
(40)  patients,  thirty-three  (33)  males  and  seven  (7)  females  of 
the  criminal  class,  in  the  hospital. 

The  official  terms  of  the  members  from  Litchfield  and 
Fairfield  Counties  expire  this  spring. 


172 


For  the  constant  blessing  of  God,  which  has  attended  this 
hospital  during  the  past  year,  the  trustees  feel  ever  grateful 
and  encouraged. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 


CHARLES  R.  INGERSOLL,  New  Haven. 


ROBBINS  BATTELL, 
SAMUEL  LINES,  M.D., 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 
JOSEPH  D.  BATES, 
RICHARD  S.  FELLOWES, 
HENRY  WOODWARD, 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS, 
JULIUS  HOTCHKISS, 


Norfolk . 

Norwalk. 

Windsor. 

Tolland. 

Colchester. 

Danielsonville. 

Neiv  Haven. 

Middletown. 

Middletown. 

Middletown. 

Middletown. 


April  1, 1876. 


■REPORT  OF  SUPERIN TENDER  T. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  : 

Gentlemen: — Agreeably  to  custom,  I herewith  submit  the 
usual  tables  with  the  details  and  statistics  of  the  hospital,  for 
the  year  ending  March  31,  1876.  The  number  of  persons 
under  treatment  exceeds  that  of  any  previous  twelve  months. 
The  general  health  of  officers,  employes,  and  patients  has 
been  good;  fewer  changes  have  occurred  among  those 
engaged  in  the  work,  and  consequently  more  efficient  service 
has  been  rendered. 

In  keeping  the  records  and  preparing  tables  therefrom  the 
same  rules  are  observed  as  in  former  years.  Without  these 
precautions  the  tabulated  statistics  or  any  deductions  based 
upon  them  would  be  worthless.  For  instance,  at  some  hos- 
pitals it  is  customary  to  discharge  a patient  when  he  leaves 
the  building  and  to  re-admit  him  on  a new  number  whenever 
returned.  Thus  an  individual,  suffering  from  periodical 
insanity,  may  leave  the  hospital  and  return  several  times 
during  twelve  months  and  appear  on  the  records  each  time 
as  a new  admission.  To  avoid  error,  it  has  been  our  custom 
to  record  such  cases  as  “home  on  a visit,”  or  “ on  trial.”  At 
the  end  of  the  year  the  records  are  balanced  and  all  persons 
accounted  for.  Thus  the  number  of  admissions  represents  an 
equal  number  of  persons ; this  rule  applies  to  discharges  and 
recoveries. 

At  the  date  of  the  last  report  there  were  remaining  four 
hundred  and  fifty  (450)  patients,  of  wThom  two  hundred  and 
nineteen  (219)  were  males  and  two  hundred  and  thirty-one 
(231)  were  females.  There  have  been  since  admitted  to  this 


174 


date,  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  (166)  patients;  one  hundred 
and  eight  (108)  males,  and  fifty-eight  (58)  females. 

Of  this  whole  number,  six  hundred  and  sixteen  (616), 
forty-five  (45)  were  discharged  recovered,  forty-six  (46)  im- 
proved, thirty-two  (32)  stationary,  and  thirty-three  (33)  died. 
The  daily  average  during  the  year  is  452.64.  The  smallest 
number  present  on  any  one  day  was  four  hundred  and  forty 
(440).  The  largest  number  four  hundred  and  sixty-four  (464). 
The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  deaths  annually, 
the  percentage  of  average  number,  and  percentage  of  whole 
number  present  during  each  year: 


Deaths  and  titeir  Ratios,  from  May  1,  1868,  to  April 

1,  1876. 


Official  Year. 

Whole  No.  of 
Patients. 

Daily  Average 
No.  of  Patients. 

DEATHS. 

Per  Cent,  on  whole 
No.  of  Patients. 

Per  Cent,  on  Daily 
Average 
No.  of  Patients. 

Men. 

Women. 

Total. 

1868-69, 

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17.57 

1869-70, 

343 

225.17 

18 

3 

21 

6 12 

9.32 

1870-71, 

307 

237. 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72, 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-78, 

336 

264.53 

12 

9 

21 

6.25 

7.86 

1873-74, 

524 

339.51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75, 

605 

425  80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76, 

616 

452.64 

26 

7 

33 

5.35 

7.31 

The  comparatively  low  death  rate  during  the  year  is  partly 
attributable  to  a number  of  favorable  circumstances,  which 
cannot  always  be  counted  on.  With  constantly  increasing 
numbers  of  chronic  cases,  advanced  in  years,  and  worn  out  by 
long-continued  maniacal  excitement,  we  must  sooner  or  later 
reach  the  limit  beyond  which  good  nursing,  favorable  hy- 
gienic arrangements  and  regularity  of  habits  and  diet  may 
not  prolong  life.  By  referring  to  the  table  of  causes  you 
observe  that  nearly  one-half  of  all  deaths  were  the  result  of 
incurable  organic  changes,  such  as  Bright’s  disease,  general 


175 


paresis  and  apoplexy.  It  will  be  observed  that  one  hundred 
and  eight  (108)  men  were  admitted  during  the  year,  and  only 
fifty-eight  (58)  women.  This  has  been  owing  simply  to  want 
of  room  in  the  wards  devoted  to  females  in  consequence  of  a 
larger  percentage  of  chronic  cases  and  fewer  recoveries.  As 
the  wards  allotted  to  men  are  now  crowded  I believe  that 
hereafter  the  admission  will  be  more  equally  proportioned. 
Without  knowing  this  you  might  infer  that  mental  disease 
was  more  curable  in  one  sex  than  in  the  other.  Experience 
shows  that  under  the  same  influence  there  is  little  difference. 
One  fatal  form  of  insanity,  general  paresis,  is  becoming  more 
common  among  men,  while  it  rarely  affects  women;  hence 
we  may  reasonably  expect  more  frequent  recoveries,  and, 
consequently,  more  vacancies  as  well  as  more  deaths  among 
the  men  than  among  the  women. 

Statutory  provision  is  made  for  three  classes  of  patients, 
and  the  treatment  for  all  is  the  same. 

Mental  Condition  is  the  only  true  basis  of  classification. 
Previous  social  standing  does  not  protect  from  abnormal  and 
often  repulsive  mental  manifestations.  It  is  no  uncommon 
experience  to  have  those  who  are  refined  and  cultured  de- 
velop the  opposite  qualities  when  under  the  influence  of 
strong  delusions.  The  friends  of  highly  excited'  patients 
sometimes  express  surprise  and  regret  that  their  loved  ones 
are  not  domiciled  in  a quiet  ward  with  convalescents,  where 
books,  pictures,  and  flowers  adorn  the  walls  and  recesses, 
giving  to  each  an  air  of  comfort  and  home-likeness  which  is 
pleasant  to  behold.  It  is  perhaps  natural  and  excusable  that 
they  should  lose  sight  of  the  fact  which  is  evident  to  all  oth- 
ers— that  one  excitable  person  would  disturb  and  jeopardize 
the  recovery  of  others.  Hence  we  have  always  exercised 
the  privilege  of  classifying  patients  according  to  their  men- 
tal condition. 

Of  the  three  classes  for  whom  the  law  provides  there  are 
at  this  date  three  hundred  and  two  (302)  paupers,  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  (135)  indigent,  and  twenty-three  (23) 
paying  patients.  The  first  group  includes  all  who  are  sent 
by  the  selectmen  of  towns  or  the  State  authorities.  The 


176 


second  class  comprises  such  as  have  moderate  means  and  are 
able  to  pay  one-half  the  expense  of  support,  the  balance  be- 
ing charged  to  the  State.  All  such  are  admitted  on  the  or- 
der of  probate  judges,  who  are  by  law  required  to  determine 
the  fact  of  indigency.  The  last  group  includes  those  who 
are  self-supporting,  either  personally  or  by  friends. 

Believing  that  a State  hospital  should  provide  primarily 
for  those  who  are  in  moderate  circumstances,  I have  invaria- 
bly advised  applicants  of  the  latter  class  to  seek  accommo- 
dations elsewhere.  I do  not  understand  that  the  superin- 
tendent has  discretionary  power  in  the  premises,  hence  wThen 
friends  insist  upon  admission  here,  I have  entered  their  ap- 
plication in  regular  order.  The  admissions  during  the  year 
were  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  (166)  patients,  but  it  should 
be  borne  in  mind  that  double  that  number  applied  for  en- 
trance. The  waiting  period  was  often  six  months.  Quite  a 
number  died  before  their  turn  came;  others  were  sent  to  in- 
stitutions out  of  the  State ; but  the  majority  remained  at 
home  or  in  the  almshouses,  to  the  great  annoyance  and  sor- 
row of  friends  and  officials,  until  the  period  most  favorable 
for  treatment  had  passed.  Who  can  estimate  the  sum  to- 
tal of  suffering,  anxiety,  and  care  incident  to  these  delays  ? 
Neither  the  hospital  nor  its  officers  are  responsible,  yet  they 
receive  the  burden  of  blame. 

The  officers  are  deeply  pained  when  patients  are  brought 
to  the  hospital  for  whom  the  needed  applications  have  not 
been  made.  We  have  by  circulars  and  the  press  and  by  per- 
sonal letters  tried  to  prevent  town  officers  from  bringing  pa- 
tients without  notice,  and  thus  save  useless  expense.  When 
a hospital  is  filled,  every  additional  case  disturbs  the  order, 
destroys  classification  and  multiplies  the  difficulties  incident 
to  successful  treatment  of  the  insane.  In  the  attempt  to  ben- 
efit one,  positive  injury  results  to  man y.  The  officers  have 
endeavored  to  make  vacancies  whenever  practicable ; no 
violent  or  highly-excited  person  has  been  refused  admission 
when  a quiet  chronic  case  could  be  exchanged.  In  this  way 
many  milder  patients  have  gone  back  to  the  town  houses, 
and  others  to  their  homes.  As  the  hospital  is  now  filled  to 


177 


its  utmost  capacity  with  a large  proportion  of  cases  who  from 
age,  infirmity,  or  disease,  require  hospital  care,  the  number 
of  discharges  will  be  proportionally  less,  and  the  applications 
for  admission  increasingly  greater.  Judging  from  the  past 
and  from  the  character  of  those  now  occupying  the  wards, 
we  cannot  reasonably  expect  to  discharge  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  (150)  persons  during  the  next  twelve 
months.  Experience  shows  that  in  a population  of  600,000 
there  will  annually  occur  at  least  three  hundred  new  cases 
of  insanity  who  should  receive  prompt  treatment.  What 
provision  can  be  made  for  the  remaining  one  hundred  and 
fifty  ? 

This  is  a vital  question  which  should  receive  your  earnest 
and  careful  consideration. 

Nothwithstanding  the  general  financial  depression,  the 
bills  for  board  and  other  expenses  have  been  promptly  paid. 
A number  of  patients  have  been  sent  by  order  of  judges,  in 
compliance  with  Chapter  Y,  Title  YIII,  of  Revised  Statutes. 
The  law  is  defective,  in  that  it  does  not  explicitly  deter- 
mine who  shall  be  responsible  for  the  support  of  such  cases. 
The  institution  can  only  look  to  the  town  from  which  the 
patient  is  admitted.  If  sent  by  order  of  a police  court  or  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  the  selectmen  may  perhaps  refuse  to 
pay  the  bill,  and  thus  oblige  the  hospital  to  resort  to  legal 
measures  for  its  collection.  I have  reason  to  know  that  in  a 
few  instances,  selectmen  have  neglected  complaints  respect- 
ing insane  persons,  and  have  allowed  other  parties  to  apply 
to  police  courts  rather  than  assume  their  official  responsi- 
bilities. A majority  of  these  cases,  however,  come  before 
the  courts  charged  with  crime;  when  acquitted  of  the  charge 
on  the  ground  of  insanity,  they  are  promptly  transferred  to 
the  hospital.  During  the  past  year  seventeen  persons,  (16) 
males  and  one  (1)  female  have  been  thus  admitted.  Of  this 
number,  one  was  imbecile,  three  epileptic,  and  two  proved  not 
insane  ; the  others  were  ordinary  cases  of  insanity.  There 
are  also  twenty-three  remaining  in  hospital  who  were  admit- 
ted in  former  years,  making  a total  of  forty  (10),  thirty-three 

(33)  males,  and  seven  (7)  females,  of  the  so-called  class  of 

12 


178 


criminal  insane,  or  about  nine  (9)  per  cent,  of  the  entire 
number. 

A brief  analysis  of  the  nature  of  the  crime  for  which  they 
were  arrested  may  be  of  interest  to  those  who  are  tabulating 
facts  respecting  pauperism,  insanity,  and  crime.  One  person 
was  arrested  for  throwing  stones  through  the  windows  of  a 
railroad  car,  while  in  motion  ; one  for  bigamy  ; one  for  kill- 
ing a neighbor’s  cowT ; another  for  breaking  house  windows  ; 
two  for  vagrancy;  two  for  arson  ; two  for  breach  of  peace  ; 
three  for  theft ; five  for  murder  ; and  twenty-one  for  assault 
and  battery.  Six  of  these  were  transferred  from  the  State 
Prison  at  Wethersfield,  and  their  history  would  seem  to  in- 
dicate that  they  were  insane  when  tried  and  convicted. 

Another  annoyance  to  the  hospital  in  the  collection  of 
bills,  grows  out  of  the  old  but  no  less  barbarous  custom, 
which  still  exists  in  some  sections,  of  u farming  out  ” the  poor 
to  the  lowest  bidder.  By  this  arrangement  the  hospital  is 
virtually  at  the  mercy  of  the  contractor. 

A census  of  the  hospital  population  on  January  1,  1876, 
prepared  by  Dr.  G.  S.  May,  showing  the  relative  proportion 
of  Americans  and  foreigners,  and  the  manner  of  admission, 
is  of  special  interest.  At  that  date  there  were  four  hundred 
and  sixty-four  (464)  patients,  twenty-four  (24)  of  whom  were 
Americans  and  self-supporting.  One  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  (132)  were  indigent,  sixteen  (16)  of  whom  were  of  for- 
eign birth,  and  able  to  pay  one-half  of  the  expense  at  hos- 
pital. Three  hundred  and  eight  (308)  were  supported  en- 
tirely at  public  expense,  of  whom  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
one  (181)  were  foreigners.  Thus  it  appears  that  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-seven  (197)  persons,  or  two-fifths  of  the 
whole  number  under  treatment  at  that  date,  wTere  not  of 
American  birth,  and  only  sixteen  were  paying  anything  to- 
wards defraying  their  expenses. 

A repulsive  feature  ot  some  forms  of  mental  derangement 
is  the  change  of  personal  habits  of  individuals.  Those  who 
are  naturally  quiet,  modest,  and  taciturn  become  boisterous 
and  rude  ; others  who  are  exquisitely  neat  and  cleanly,  man- 
ifest untidy  propensities  that  would  astonish  their  intimate 


179 


friends.  It  has  been  our  aim  during  the  past  year  to  study 
the  so-called  “filthy  habit”  of  the  insane  for  the  purpose  of 
ascertaining  how  much  of  it  could  be  corrected  by  watchful 
care,  personal  attention  to  habits  and  mild  discipline. 

The  subjects  of  this  habit  may  be  divided  into  three 
classes : Those  who  from  paralysis  or  other  physical  causes 
are  unable  to  control  their  secretions;  those  who  from  ab- 
sorbing delusions  become  unconsciously  filthy;  and  lastly, 
those  who  are  partially  demented,  habitually  lazy,  or  morally 
insensible,  preferring  to  remain  untidy  rather  than  make  any 
exertion.  In  a hospital  population  made  up  largely  of  the 
chronic  insane,  there  is  an  average  of  9 per  cent,  who  are  in- 
clined to  be  habitually  filthy. 

I am  indebted  to  Dr.  May  for  careful  attention  to  this  sub- 
ject. The  following  statistics  show  the  results  of  his  labor 
and  how  much  can  be  done  by  watchfulness  on  the  part  of 
attendants,  and  some  additional  care  bestowed  upon  this 
class  by  the  night  watchman  : 


Average  Number  Present. 

Number  with  “Dirty  Habit.” 

Per  Cent,  of  Habit. 

June,  1875,  225 

June, 

21 

June, 

8.88 

October,  1875,  225 

October, 

14 

October, 

6.22 

November,  1875,  225 

November, 

8 

November, 

3.55 

March,  1876,  230 

March, 

7 

March, 

3.04 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  there  were  in  June  last  twenty- 
one  men  who  regularly  wet  or  soiled  their  beds  nightly,  out 
of  a population  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five.  Early  in 
October  the  number  had  been  reduced  to  fourteen,  and  at 
this  date  there  are  only  seven.  These  facts  relate  to  male 
patients ; we  are  not  able  to  make  as  favorable  a showing  re- 
specting female  patients.  Closely  allied  to  this  subject  is 
another  of  even  greater  importance.  I refer  to  the  question 
of  mechanical  restraint.  Experienced  alienists  have  differed 
respecting  the  amount  of  restraint  advantageous  to  the  wel- 


180 


fare  of  the  insane.  Some  superintendents  have  found  it 
necessary  to  employ  more  or  less  restraint  in  nearly  all  acute 
cases,  and  in  many  chronic ; while  others  of  equal  experience 
theoretically  discard  all  mechanical  appliances  for  controll- 
ing the  excitable  or  turbulent,  and  depend  entirely  upon  me- 
dicinal remedies  and  watchful  attendance.  Without  attempt- 
ing to  discuss  the  merits  of  the  question  I report  that  our 
experience  has  led  us  to  follow  a medium  policy.  We  have 
been  governed  in  our  course  by  the  actual  case  presented. 
In  some  forms  of  acute  mania,  where  it  seemed  necessary  to 
economize  all  remaining  strength,  I have  prevented  its  ex- 
penditure by  confining  the  patient  to  a soft  bed  in  a quiet, 
darkened  room,  alone.  I conscientiously  believe  that  this 
method  is  less  exciting  to  the  patient  and  more  humane  than 
the  manual  holding  by  nurses.  The  mere  presence  of  an- 
other person  in  the  room  will  often  prevent  a patient  from 
sleeping. 

After  thus  admitting  the  usefulness  of  restraint  in  certain 
cases,  I desire  to  protest  against  the  tendency  to  use  it  in  or- 
dinary cases  of  chronic  insanity  where  employment,  diversion, 
and  watching  would  obviate  the  necessity  for  it.  In  this  re- 
spect we  have  made  great  progress  during  the  past  year.  On 
the  first  of  November  last,  with  a population  of  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five  (225)  male  patients,  only  two  were  subjected 
to  any  form  of  mechanical  restraint;  one  had  his  hands  in  a 
leather  muff  to  prevent  the  removal  of  bandages  from  his  leg; 
the  other  wore  a camisole  waist  a part  of  the  time  to  keep  him 
from  destroying  his  clothing.  During  the  past  three  months 
these  two  men  have  been  without  restraint,  and  we  have 
actually  conducted  the  hospital  on  the  male  side  on  the  non- 
restraint plan.  I am  under  obligations  to  the  officers  and 
attendants  who  have  taken  so  much  pains  to  further  efforts  in 
this  direction.  Much  of  its  success  depends  upon  the  charac- 
ter of  the  attendants  having  immediate  charge  of  the  wards. 
Kindness,  regularity,  and  watchful  attention  are  efficient 
qualities  in  this  direction.  The  great  want  in  every  hospital 
is  occupation ; patients  who  are  in  suitable  condition  to  do  so 
go  out  with  a sense  of  relief  to  farm  work,  to  the  kitchen, 


181 


laundry  or  sewing  room,  and  regard  the  change  as  diversion. 
The  object  in  setting  a patient  to  work  is  not  that  he  may  re- 
pay cost  of  treatment,  but  it  is  to  aid  him  in  casting  aside 
fancies  and  in  returning  to  healthy  feelings  and  thoughts. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  discuss  the  labor  question  as  it 
relates  to  the  insane  and  their  hospitals.  There  are  many 
arguments  in  favor  of  the  more  general  occupation  of  insane 
persons.  I wTould  simply  report  that  from  the  opening  of  the 
hospital  to  the  present  time  we  have  endeavored  to  employ 
all  who  were  in  condition,  whenever  suitable  work  could  be 
provided.  Four  years  ago  I found  by  actual  tables  that  we 
were  regularly  employing  24  per  cent,  of  the  hospital  popu- 
lation. Referring  to  the  table  of  classification  on  page  13 
you  observe  that  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  patients  are  em- 
ployed systematically.  There  are  in  addition  forty  persons 
among  the  other  classes  who  do  their  own  mending  and  mak- 
ing of  clothes,  embroidery,  and  fancy  needle-work  ; hence  out 
of  a population  of  four  hundred  and  fifty-four  (454)  persons  in 
March,  when  the  tables  were  prepared,  one  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  (ITT,)  or  39  per  cent,  of  the  whole  number,  were 
at  various  kinds  of  work  for  several  hours  daily.  When  in- 
sanity becomes  to  be  regarded,  as  it  should  be,  a physical  dis- 
ease, like  other  nervous  diseases,  it  will  lose  half  ot  the  dread 
which  has  surrounded  it ; it  will  not  then  be  hidden  as  a 
crime,  and  the  patient  himself  will  not  feel  the  misery  of 
avoidance  and  mistrust  which  annoy  so  deeply  the  convales- 
cent patient. 

It  is  difficult  to  get  rid  of  old  notions  on  the  subject  of 
“ lunatics.”  The  popular  idea  is  that  they  are  raving,  des- 
perate maniacs,  dangerous  to  approach.  Visitors  enter  the 
wards  of  an  asylum  with  the  expectation  of  meeting  madmen , 
and  are  therefore  often  surprised  to  see  groups  of  patients  sit- 
ting in  the  halls  or  parlors,  perfectly  quiet,  and  only  “ curious 
about  the  curiosity  of  the  stranger.”  This  favorable  condi- 
tion results  simply  from  the  regularity  and  the  system  of 
classification  in  modern  hospital  life.  Insanity  does  not 
wholly  alter  a man’s  nature  ; old  habits,  instincts,  and  feelings 
may  be  twisted  or  exaggerated,  but  still  form  a part  of  his 


182 


nature  as  ordinarily  shown.  Hence  when  removed  from 
their  surroundings  and  those  influences  which  were  act- 
ing as  a disturbing  element,  and  he  flnds  the  shelter  of  a com- 
fortable hospital  home,  his  prospects  for  a return  of  healthy 
mental  action  are  measurably  improved.  In  order  that  you 
may  easily  comprehend  our  condition,  I have  carefully  pre- 
pared the  following  table,  in  which  the  whole  hospital  popu- 
lation is  divided  into  eight  classes,  according  to  their  mental 
and  physical  condition : 


Epileptic,  Idiotic, 
and  Demented. 

Infirm,  Aged,  and 
Crippled. 

Periodic. 

Maniacal,  Noisy, 
Destructive, 
Quarrelsome, 
and  Filthy. 

Ward  Workers. 

Workers  on  the 
Farm,  Kitchen, 
Laundry,  &c. 

Convalescent. 

Could  be  taken 
care  of  at  home 
or  at  Almshouse. 

First  Hall,  South, 

2 

2 

9 

4 

15 

1 

Second  Hall,  South, 

3 

. , 

4 

7 

11 

i 

2 

Third  Hall,  South, 

4 

2 

7 

3 

5 

l 

3 

Fourth  Hall,  South, 

3 

i 

. . 

10 

1 

2 

, . 

4 

Fifth  Hall,  South, 

1 

2 

15 

5 

7 

1 

Sixth  Hall,  South 

2 

i 

15 

4 

3 

*i 

2 

Seventh  Hall,  South, 

1 

10 

3 

1 

4 

1 

Eighth  Hall,  South, 

1 

3 

10 

5 

1 

5 

North  Cottage 

l 

3 

7 

3 

First  Hall,  North, 

2 

l 

*3 

19 

3 

5 

1 

Second  Hall,  North, 

5 

l 

1 

8 

3 

8 

5 

Third  Hall,  North, 

1 

2 

7 

5 

2 

*3 

3 

Fourth  Hall,  North, 

1 

*5 

10 

3 

Fifth  Hall,  North, 

3 

3 

‘i 

18 

5 

*i 

2 

Sixth  Hall,  North, 

. . 

3 

l 

14 

2 

8 

3 

Seventh  Hall,  North, 

2 

3 

4 

6 

4 

*2 

2 

Eighth  Hall,  North, 

1 

5 

6 

2 

5 

South  Cottage, 

1 

1 

5 

1 

7 

Total, 

33 

30 

17 

173 

60 

76 

12 

53 

An  analysis  of  this  table  shows  (33)  patients  who  are 
epileptic  and  idiotic;  thirty  (30)  who  are  infirm,  aged,  and 
crippled  ; seventeen  (17)  who  suffer  from  periodical  mania, 
having  regular  paroxysms  of  excitement  followed  by  lucid 
intervals,  these  are  always  incurable  aud  among  our  most 
troublesome  patients;  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  (173) 
are  maniacal,  noisy,  quarrelsome,  destructive,  and  filthy  5 


183 


sixty  (60)  assist  in  ward  work  and  mending;  seventy-six  (76) 
go  out  regularly  to  tlie  kitchen,  laundry,  sewing-room,  or 
farm;  twelve. (12)  are  convalescent  and  will  soon  return  to  their 
homes  ; fifty-three  are  quiet,  chronic  patients,  who  could  be 
taken  care  of  at  home  (if  possessed  of  such  a place)  or  at  the 
almshouse.  The  first  four  classes  include  two  hundred  and 
fifty-three  (253)  persons  who  require  constant  attention  and 
hospital  care.  Among  the  class  of  ward  workers  are  thirty 
turbulent  chronic  cases,  who  need  supervision  and  restraint; 
there  are  also  thirty  who  are  improving  and  may  recover, 
some  of  whom  could  be  provided  for  elsewhere.  Of  those 
who  labor  more  or  less  continuously  out  of  the  wards,  thirty 
(30)  are  turbulent,  noisy,  or  destructive,  and  require  constant 
attendance,  among  whom  are  many  of  the  criminal  insane ; 
forty  of  this  class  are  quiet,  chronic  patients,  or  convalescents, 
who  are  better  provided  for  at  the  hospital  but  could  be 
taken  care  of  at  home.  The  division  of  convalescents  includes 
all  who  have  recovered  but  remain  a few  days  or  weeks  to 
regain  full  mental  vigor. 

This  careful  analysis  shows  that  there  at  this  date  one 
hundred  and  twenty-three  persons  in  the  hospital,  who, 
wdiile  under  its  regular  influences,  manifest  no  particular 
demonstration  that  would  absolutely  require  hospital  re- 
straint. Their  insanity  is  of  a mild  character.  It  is  from 
this  class  that  we  are  continually  sending  patients  away  to 
make  room  for  more  urgent  cases.  Within  the  past  few 
years  one  hundred  and  fifty  (150)  have  in  this  way  been 
returned  to  the  almshouses  or  to  their  friends.  I do  not  believe 
the  policy  economic  or  humane  in  the  end ; sooner  or  later 
these  cases  return  to  us  in  a worse  condition,  and  wdiile  at 
home  often  prove  a burden  to  their  poor  families  wdio  can  ill 
afford  to  give  up  regular  employment  to  watch  and  protect 
these  unfortunates. 

When  I have  urged  selectmen  of  towns  to  remove  certain 
mild  cases  they  have  invariably  answered,  “It  is  better  for 
us  to  support  the  cases  at  the  hospital  than  to  have  their 
families  on  our  hands,  as  they  generally  are  wdien  the  irre- 
sponsible person  returns  home.”  As  in  all  other  questions, 


184 


there  are  two  sides  to  this  one,  and  it  is  often  peculiarly 
difficult  to  determine  the  best  policy. 

Thus,  it  will  be  seen  that  your  hospital  is  over-crowded  by 
the  indigent  insane,  a majority  of  whom  may  require  its  pro- 
tecting care  as  long  as  life  continues;  and  yet  there  are  sixty- 
five  applications  for  admission  more  than  we  can  accommo- 
date. Another  hospital  is  needed  as  much  to  day  as  this  one 
was  ten  years  ago. 

For  details  respecting  farm  products,  I would  refer  you  to 
Mr.  Weatherbee’s  report.  Under  his  management  the  farm 
is  being  steadily  improved  and  brought  up  to  a high  state  of 
cultivation.  Here  I may  properly  allude  to  the  large  amount 
of  work  done  last  season  in  grading  and  finishing  the  grounds, 
laying  walks,  roads,  and  underdrains,  preparatory  to  planting 
of  trees  and  shrubbery.  This  work  is  of  so  much  importance 
in  view  of  its  influence  upon  the  insane  that  I ask  you  to 
press  it  forward  to  completion. 

In  a large  building  filled  wTith  persons  of  destructive 
habits,  there  is  a continual  process  of  wrear  and  waste,  which 
must  be  met  and  corrected.  It  has  been  my  policy,  as  you 
know,  to  not  only  keep  up  the  repairs  but  also  to  make  im- 
provements where  experience  indicated  the  necessity.  At 
the  quarterly  meeting  in  July,  a committee  was  appointed  to 
reconstruct  and  add  to  the  laundry  building.  This  work  has 
been  completed  in  a most  substantial  manner.  Nine  sleeping 
rooms  are  added  for  the  accommodation  of  employes;  also  a 
reading-room,  supplied  with  books  and  papers  regularly. 
The  wooden  floor  which  had  rotted  in  the  laundry  had  been 
replaced  by  a smooth  slate  tile  floor  laid  in  cement  over 
brick  arches.  We  have  introduced  one  of  Weston’s  centrif- 
ugal wringers;  have  enlarged  the  ironing  room  in  connection 
with  a fire-proof  room  for  the  sad-iron  heater,  and  in  other 
respects  have  greatly  increased  the  facilities  for  washing  and 
ironing.  All  the  new  shafting  in  the  laundry  is  supplied 
with  “ mettaline  boxes  ” which  have  thus  far  worked 
admirably.  Late  in  the  autumn  you  decided  to  enlarge  the 
boiler-house  and  replace  the  worn  out  u Hoot  boilers  ” with  a 
large  drop-flue  boiler,  similar  to  those  already  in  use.  A 


135 


contract  was  made  with  H.  B.  Beach  & Son  of  Hartford, 
who  have  completed  their  work  to  the  satisfaction  of  your 
committee.  To  increase  the  draft,  the  main  chimney  was 
carried  up  thirty  feet  to  a hight  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
feet.  While  engaged  in  this  perilous  undertaking  one  of  the 
mason  tenders  was  fatally  injured  by  the  accidental  fall  of  a 
brick  which  struck  him  on  the  head,  causing  a fracture  of  the 
skull  and  concussion  of  the  brain. 

It  is  again  my  pleasant  duty  to  acknowledge  with  sincere 
gratitude  the  reception  of  various  donations,  indicative  of  an 
interest  in  the  hospital  and  its  field  of  usefulness.  During 
the  past  three  years  our  patients  have  received  one  hundred 
bouquets  weekly  from  the  “ Flower  Mission”  connected  with 
the  South  Conoreo;ational  Church  Sabbath-scliool.  Who  can 
estimate  the  sum  total  of  pleasure  thus  delicately  and  fragrant- 
ly communicated  ? 

We  have  received  from  George  II.  Hulbert,  Esq.,  the  “ In- 
dependent ” and  the  “Ad vance”;  Rev.  R.  T.  Thorn,  copies 
weekly  of  the  “Parish  Visitor”;  Hon.  T.  S.  Gold,  several 
volumes  of  “Agricultural  Reports  ”;  Mrs.  Benjamin  Douglas 
a cabinet  organ  and  books  for  Seventh  Ward  ; Mrs.  Fellowes, 
package  of  “London  Illustrated  News”;  A.  Van  Name,  libra- 
rian of  Yale  College,  large  package  of  “ Punch  ” and  English 
illustrated  papers;  A.  M.  Smith,  Esq.,  a box  of  thirty  books; 
A.  B.  Gillette,  a set  of  Thackeray’s  novels,  finely  bound;  Miss 
Dix,  game  of  buffet;  Messrs.  Peck  and  Skilton,  two  rustic 
settees  for  front  porch  ; Mrs.  Samuel  Colt,  thirty  dollars  for 
books. 

We  are  under  obligations  to  the  publishers  of  the  following 
named  newspapers  who  have  continued  to  furnish  copies 
regularly  and  gratuitously : 


Hartford  Daily  Courant,  .... 

Hartford,  Conn. 

“ Evening  Post,  - 

. 

“ Weekly  Times,  - 

a a 

Religious  Herald, 

- 

New  Haven  Evening  Register, 

- New  Haven,  Conn. 

Morning  J ournal  and  Courier,  - 

i < ft 

“ Weekly  Palladium,  - 

ic  a 

186 


Connecticut  Herald  and  Weekly  Journal, 
The  Commonwealth,  - 
The  Constitution,  Weekly  and  Daily,  - 
The  Sentinel  and  Witness,  Weekly, 

The  Republican  and  Standard, 

The  Tolland  County  Journal, 
Connecticut  Western  News, 

Watson’s  Art  Journal,  - 


- New  Haven,  Conn. 

( i ii 

- Middletown,  Conn. 

i t a 

- Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Rockville,  Conn. 
Salisbury,  Conn. 
New  York  City. 


Up  to  the  present  time  the  mechanical  power  for  fan  and 
laundry  purposes  has  been  obtained  by  the  use  of  a small 
upright  “ Root  ” engine.  Early  in  November  your  committee 
made  a contract  with  the  Hartford  Foundry  & Machine  Co. 
for  a twenty-five  horse  power  horizontal  engine  of  the 
“ Woodruff  & Beach”  pattern.  This  engine  was  placed  in 
position  in  February,  and  has  been  in  use  about  four  weeks. 
For  simplicity,  economy,  and  smoothness  of  motion  it  prom- 
ises to  maintain  the  high  reputation  which  these  engines  have 
everywhere  acquired.  The  exhaust  steam  from  it  is  used  in 
heating  water  for  the  laundry.  The  new  engine-room  is  fin- 
ished in  a plain  but  neat  manner,  with  ash  and  walnut  woods 
oiled  and  varnished,  the  floor  being  tiled  with  red  and  green 
slate. 

To  you  who  are  familiar  with  the  daily  life  at  this  institu- 
tion I hardly  need  refer  to  our  system  of  amusements  and 
entertainments.  Any  recreation  which  promotes  innocent 
enjoyment,  which  is  physically  healthy  and  morally  pure,  is 
a social  influence  which  should  be  cultivated.  The  aim  has 
been  to  make  our  amusements  attractive  and  instructive,  and 
of  such  wise  frequency  as  to  be  looked  forward  to  with  pleas- 
ure. Thus  we  have  devoted  one  evening  each  week  to  music 
and  dancing ; two  evenings  to  stereopticon  exhibitions,  and 
generally  one  evening  to  lecture,  concert,  or  reading.  Last 
autumn  some  of  the  offcers,  attendants,  and  patients,  formed 
a minstrel  troupe  whose  performances  were  very  amusing 
and  acceptable. 

In  November  the  Shepard  Jubilee  Singers  gave  11s  an  af- 
ternoon concert,  which  was  thoroughly  enjoyed  by  all.  We 
are  under  obligations  to  the  South  Congregational  Church 


/ 


187 


choir  for  an  evening  devoted  to  choice  music  ; and  to  Mr. 
Stack,  daughter,  and  friends  for  an  instrumental  concert. 

Religious  services,  conducted  by  clergymen  of  different,  de- 
nominations, are  held  regularly  on  Sabbath  afternoons  at  two 
o’clock.  The  Rev.  Father  O’Brien  has  frequently  performed 
service  in  accordance  with  the  rites  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church. 

During  the  past  twelve  months,  no  changes  have  occurred 
in  the  staff*  of  officers,  and  but  few  among  attendants  or 
employes. 

If  experience  and  judgment  acquired  by  length  of  service 
are  desirable  in  ordinary  pursuits,  how  much  more  valuable 
do  they  become  when  considered  in  relation  to  services  ren- 
dered to  the  insane. 

In  consequence  of  the  employment  of  many  laborers  and 
mechanics  in  carrying  forward  the  improvements  already 
described,  considerable  extra  work  devolved  upon  your  clerk, 
Mr.  F.  B.  Weeks.  As  in  former  years,  so  now,  he  proved 
equal  to  the  responsibility  in  correctness,  promptness,  and 
efficiency.  I am  under  especial  obligations  to  my  medical 
assistants  for  their  continued  aid  and  watchful  care  in  the 
work  to  which  we  are  assigned.  During  the  absence  of 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hallock,  last  autumn,  their  duties  were  per- 
formed respectively  by  Dr.  T.  B.  Bloomfield  and  Mrs.  Dutton 
to  my  entire  satisfaction. 

By  request  I have  prepared,  and  herewith  submit,  a history 
of  this  institution  during  its  first  ten  years,  to  this  date,  with 
a description  of  the  building. 

In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  express  my  grateful  sense  of 
obligation  to  the  members  of  the  board  for  hearty  and  intelli- 
gent co-operation  and  personal  kindness.  Relying  upon  their 
ready  assistance  in  the  future,  and  with  unfaltering  trust  in  an 
over-ruling  Providence,  we  enter  upon  the  duties  of  another 

yeai*  Respectfully  submitted, 

ABRAM  MARVIN  SHEW, 

Superintendent . 


Middletown,  Conn.,  April  1,  1876. 


HISTORY  AND  DESCRIPTION 


OF  THE 

Connecticut 

H OSPITAL  FOR  THE  INSANE, 

BY 

ABRAM  MARVIN  SHEW,  M.D.,  Superintendent. 


Previous  to  the  year  1840,  the  insane  poor  were  kept  con- 
fined in  the  almshouses  of  the  towns;  a certain  number  were 
generally  well  cared  for  in  the  “ Retreat  at  Hartford.”  In  the 
year  1840  an  effort  was  made  to  provide  a hospital  especially 
for  them. 

A memorial,  addressed  to  the  General  Assembly,  stated 
that  the  number  of  pauper  insane  was  eight  hundred,  and 
that  there  was  pressing  need  of  special  provision  for  their 
care. 

It  is  a coincidence  that  in  1840  a site  for  a hospital  w^as 
selected  at  Middletown,  about  one  quarter  of  a mile  from  the 
land  which  was  presented  to  the  State  for  the  same  purpose 
twenty-six  years  later.  But  a period  of  twenty  years  was 
allowed  to  pass  before  the  legislature  was  ready  to  recognize 
the  importance  of  providing  a suitable  state  institution. 

Mainly  through  the  earnest  and  judicious  efforts  of  Miss 
Dix  during  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly  at  New 
Haven  in  1866,  an  “Act  to  create  a Hospital  for  the  Insane 
in  the  State  of  Connecticut”  was  adopted  as  follows: 

Whereas,  — The  Report  of  the  Commission  appointed  by  this 
Assembly  in  the  year  1865,  shows  that  there  are  seven  hundred 
and  six  insane  persons  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  of  whom 
two  hundred  and  two  are  in  the  “ Retreat”  at  Hartford,  two 
hundred  and  four  are  in  the  almshouses  ; and  three  hundred 


189 


outside  of  both;  and  whereas,  it  is  impossible  to  secure  suitable 
care  and  medical  attention  for  this  large  and  deeply  afflicted 
class,  either  in  the  “Retreat”  or  in  the  almshouses,  or  in  private 
houses ; and  whereas,  considerations  of  humanity  and  of  true 
economy,  as  well  as  of  public  welfare,  and  of  our  holy  religion, 
all  alike  demand  that  these  persons  should  be  liberally  provided 
for  by  the  State  ; therefore, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Assembly  convened: 

Section  1.  There  shall  be  established  and  maintained,  at  some 
place  in  this  State,  to  be  selected  by  a board  of  trustees  as  herein- 
after provided,  an  institution  to  be  named,  “The  General  Hospital 
for  the  Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut.” 

Sec.  2.  The  government  thereof  shall  be  vested  in  a board  of 
twelve  trustees,  consisting  of  the  governor,  and  one  from  each 
county,  to  be  appointed  by  the  senate,  and  of  three  to  be  appointed 
by  the  other  trustees,  which  three  shall  be  selected  from  the  town 
or  vicinity  in  which  the  institution  shall  be  located,  two  of  whom 
shall  be  so  appointed  and  commissioned  annually;  and  the  places 
of  the  two  senior  members,  as  they  stand  in  the  order  of  their 
appointment,  shall  be  annually  vacated;  and  no  trustee  shall  re- 
ceive any  compensation  for  his  services,  but  he  shall  be  allowed  the 
amount  of  expenses  incurred  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
office,  which  amount  shall  be  examined  and  allowed  by  the  Comp- 
troller of  public  accounts  and  paid  from  the  treasury  of  the  state. 

Sec.  3.  The  trustees  shall  take  charge  of  the  general  interests 
of  the  institution,  ordain  and  execute  its  laws,  appoint  and  remove 
its  officers,  select  a suitable  location  and  a plan  for  its  buildings  ; 
shall  exercise  a strict  supervision  over  all  its  expenditures,  and 
discharge  ail  other  functions  usually  devolving  upon  such  trustees; 
they  shall  have  power  to  receive  by  gift  or  purchase  a suitable 
farm  ; and  receive  a deed  thereof,  and  the  State  treasurer  shall 
pay  therefor,  in  case  of  purchase,  on  the  warrant  of  the  comptroller. 

Sec.  4.  The  superintendent  shall  be  appointed  by  the  trustees 
at  their  first  or  some  subsequent  meeting.  He  shall  be  a compe- 
tent physician,  and  reside  in  or  near  the  institution.  As  soon  as 
possible  he  shall  procure  the  plan  of  a suitable  building  or  build- 
ings, which  shall  be  approved  and  contracted  for  by  the  trustees  ; 
he  shall  personally  superintend  its  erection  and  arrangements,  and 


190 


whenever  one  section  or  building  shall  be  completed,  he  shall  open 
the  institution  for  patients  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as  said 
trustees  shall  prescribe,  always  giving  the  preference  to  the  most 
urgent  cases,  and  to  the  people  of  this  state.  He  shall  be  the 
treasurer  of  the  institution,  keep  full  and  accurate  accounts  of  his 
receipts  and  expenditures,  and  of  the  property  entrusted  to  him. 
All  accounts,  with  suitable  vouchers,  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
trustees,  as  they  shall  require.  He  shall,  before  entering  upon  his 
duties,  give  a bond  to  the  treasurer  of  the  State,  with  acceptable 
sureties,  in  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars,  conditional  that  he 
shall  faithfully  account  for  all  moneys  and  property  received  by 
him  as  superintendent ; but  no  trustee  shall  be  superintendent  of 
the  institution. 

Sec.  5.  The  State  treasurer  shall  pay  to  the  trustees,  on  the 
warrant  of  the  comptroller,  such  sums  of  money  as  they  shall 
require  for  the  location  and  the  building  of  the  hospital,  not  to 
exceed  five  thousand  dollars  at  any  one  time,  and  the  expenditure 
of  which  shall  be  accounted  for  to  the  comptroller,  with  the 
vouchers,  before  any  other  sum  is  advanced. 

Sec.  6.  The  trustees  shall  hold  their  first  meeting  on  the  call  of 
any  three  of  their  number,  due  notice  being  given  to  all. 

Sec.  7.  Thirty-five  thousand  dollars  are  hereby  appropriated  to 
carry  into  execution  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  8.  This  act  is  to  take  effect  immediately. 

Approved  June  29,  1886. 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Section  2 of  the  above  act? 
the  following  named  persons  were  appointed  trustees,  and  at  once, 
with  unanimity  and  zeal,  entered  upon  the  important  duties  con- 
fided to  them. 


H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LEYERETTE  E.  PEASE, 
BENJAMIN  W.  TOMPKINS, 
Rev.  SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 
WILLIAM  B.  CASEY,  M.D., 
RICHARD  S.  FELLOWES, 
Rev.  CURTIS  T.  WOODRUFF, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 
JULIUS  HOTCHKISS, 


Hartford  Comity. 
Tolland  County. 

New  London  County. 
Windham  County. 
Middlesex  Coun  ty. 
Neiv  Haven  County . 
Fairfield  County. 
Litchfield  County. 
Middletown. 
Middletown. 


Rev.  JOSEPH  CUMMINGS,  D.D.,  LL.D,  Middletown. 


191 


The  first  meeting  of  this  board  was  held  at  Hartford,  July 
20,  1886.  His  Excellency,  Governor  Joseph  R.  Hawley, 
presiding.  To  prevent  needless  delay  in  the  accomplishment 
of  the  great  object  to  which  they  were  appointed,  committees 
were  named  to  visit  other  hospitals,  to  select  a superintendent, 
to  procure  a suitable  site  and  plans  for  building,  etc. 

After  several  meetings  and  hearing  the  claims  and  liberal 
propositions  of  other  towns,  the  board  formally  and  unani- 
mously accepted  about  two  hundred  acres,  which  the  town  of 
Middletown  offered  gratuitously  to  the  State  for  the  purposes 
of  the  hospital. 

It  w~as  subsequently  made  evident  that  the  institution 
would  require  a larger  possession  and  adjoining  lots;  in  all 
about  one  hundred  acres  were  purchased  by  the  trustees. 

The  site  of  the  present  hospital  is  about  one  mile  and  a 
half  southeasterly  of  the  city  of  Middletown,  bordering  on 
the  Connecticut  River,  is  dry  and  healthy,  easy  of  access  by 
land  and  water,  commanding  on  all  sides  extended  views  of 
a beautiful  region  — and  what  is  of  special  mark,  includes 
the  absolute  control  of  a living  stream  called  “ Butler’s 
Creek,”  which  furnishes  an  abundant  supply  of  pure,  soft 
water,  adequate  to  all  the  requirements  within  the  walls,  and 
sufficient  for  the  mechanical  and  ornamental  uses  of  engines 
and  fountains. 

The  judicious  vote  at  their  first  meeting,  alluded  to  above, 
led  the  trustees  to  inform  themselves  individually  of  the 
needs  in  detail  of  institutions  for  the  relief  of  insane,  and 
they  visited  several  hospitals,  and  so  brought  together  facts, 
and  the  experience  of  well-known  superintendents  in  other 
States,  of  direct  value  to  their  object. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1866,  Dr.  Abram  Marvin  Shew, 
then  connected  with  the  New  Jersey  Lunatic  Asylum,  was 
appointed  superintendent,  and  immediately  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  the  office. 

Upon  a plateau  of  the  farm  nearest  the  town,  excavations 
for  foundations  were  begun,  and  a permanent  road  to  the 
highway  constructed,  to  facilitate  the  progress  of  the  building 
early  in  the  following  spring. 


192 


During  the  winter,  the  superintendent  was  engaged  in 
elaborating  the  details  of  plans  which  he  had  submitted,  and 
which  were  adopted  unanimously,  with  approval  by  the  board 
of  trustees.  Mr.  Addison  Hutton,  architect,  of  Philadelphia, 
was  employed  to  make  working  drawings  and  occasionally  to 
inspect  the  construction  of  the  building.  On  the  20th  of 
June,  1867,  the  corner-stone  was  laid  with  impressive  and 
appropriate  ceremonies,  by  Governor  James  E.  English,  in 
the  presence  of  the  State  officers,  members  of  the  legislature, 
and  a large  concourse  of  interested  spectators.  Addresses 
were  made  by  Governor  English,  ex-Governor  Hawley,  Dr. 
Pliny  Earle  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  Rev.  Dr.  Cummings  of 
Wesleyan  University,  and  Prof.  Thacher  of  Yale  College. 
During  the  year  the  work  was  vigorously  pushed  on.  The 
carpenter  shop,  laundry,  bake  house,  kitchen,  boiler-house, 
center  building,  first  south  wing,  and  one  return  wing  were 
enclosed  before  cold  weather,  and  completed  during  the 
winter.  At  a meeting  of  the  board,  Feb.  25th,  held  at  the 
residence  of  H.  Sidney  Hayden  of  Windsor  (at  that  time 
disabled  by  a painful  accident),  on  the  recommendation  of  the 
superintendent,  Dr.  Winthrop  B.  Hallock  was  appointed 
assistant  physician,  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Hallock,  matron, 
and  Charles  W.  Galpin  of  Middletown,  steward. 

One  male  patient  was  admitted  on  the  29th  day  of  April, 
1868,  although  the  hospital  was  not  formally  opened  until  the 
next  day,  when  twelve  men  w^ere  received. 

The  daily  average  number  of  patients  during  the  first 
eight  official  years,  is  shown  in  the  subjoined  table : 


Official  Year. 

Men. 

Women. 

Total. 

1868-1869,  .... 

79.35 

6.12 

85.47 

1869-1870,  .... 

110.63 

114.54 

225.17 

1870-1871,  .... 

119. 

118. 

237. 

1871-1872,  .... 

124.15 

118.43 

242.58 

1872-1873,  .... 

132.10 

132.43 

264.53 

1873-1874,  .... 

146.32 

193.19 

339.51 

1874-1875,  .... 

198.63 

227.17 

425.80 

1875-1876,  .... 

225.60 

227.04 

452.64 

193 


There  have  been  admitted  to  this  date  (April  1,  1876) 
twelve  hundred  and  seventy- two  (1,272)  patients;  seven 
hundred  and  fourteen  (714)  males,  and  five  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  (558)  females.  Of  this  whole  number,  two  hundred 
and  thirty-nine  (239)  were  discharged  recovered,  one  hundred 
and  ninety-one  (191)  were  discharged  much  improved,  one 
hundred  and  eiglity-five  (185)  were  discharged  not  improved, 
one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  (197)  died,  leaving  the  number 
in  hospital  to-day  four  hundred  and  sixty  (460),  of  whom 
twTo  hundred  and  twenty-seven  (227)  are  males,  and  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-three  (233)  are  females. 

The  first  appropriation  for  this  hospital  was  passed  by  the 
general  assembly  of  1866.  Additional  appropriations  were 
made  from  year  to  year,  and  the  work  was  steadily  carried 
forward  until  January,  1874,  when  the  last  wTing  was  com- 
pleted and  formally  opened  for  the  reception  of  male  pa- 
tients. 

The  subjoined  table  shows  the  total  amount  received  from 
the  State  for  the  purchase  of  land,  constructing  of  dam,  res- 
ervoir, and  water-works,  and  for  the  erection  and  furnishing 
of  the  hospital  buildings.  In  accordance  with  the  terms  of 
the  appropriation  made  in  1871-1872,  a commission  consist- 
ing of  Hon.  H.  Sidney  Hayden,  Rev.  l)r.  Cummings,  and 
Cornelius  Brainard,  Esq.,  was  appointed  by  Governor  Jewell 
to  supervise  the  completion  of  the  last  two  wings.  Their 
labors  were  performed  in  a manner  that  reflects  the  highest 
credit  upon  them  and  honor  upon  the  State  which  selected 
them. 


Official  Years. 
1866, 

1867, 

1868, 

1869, 

1870, 

1871, 

1872, 

Total, 


Amount. 

$35,000.00 

150.000. 00 

200.000. 00 

35.543.00 

39.500.00 
90,000.00 
90,000.00 

$640,043.00 


13 


194 


Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  total  sum  appropriated  by 
the  State  for  this  benevolent  work  is  six  hundred  and  forty 
thousand  and  forty-three  ($640,043)  dollars.  Ample  accom- 
modations for  450  patients  and  necessary  attendants  are  thus 
provided  at  the  average  rate  of  about  fourteen  hundred 
($1,400)  dollars  per  capita.  When  it  is  remembered  that 
the  entire  work  was  done  in  the  most  substantial  manner 
during  years  immediately  following  the  rebellion,  when 
prices  of  labor  and  all  building  materials  were  greatly  en- 
hanced in  value,  Connecticut  people  may  justly  feel  proud 
of  this  favorable  exhibit. 

In  the  following  description  I shall  endeavor  to  avoid  con- 
fusing details,  using  figures  only  when  necessary  to  convey 
an  idea  of  size  or  space.  The  entire  structure,  including  car- 
penter shop,  boiler-house  and  laundry,  is  of  Portland  free- 
stone, laid  in  broken  range  work,  two  feet  in  thickness,  with 
tool-dressed  quoins,  window  sills,  and  caps,  water-table,  belt- 
ing course,  and  cornice,  surmounted  by  a “ French  Roof”  of 
slate  and  tin. 

Inside  the  stone-wall  there  is  a four-inch  brick  lining,  leav- 
ing an  air  space  of  two  inches  between  it  and  the  stone,  to 
insure  dryness.  The  style  of  architecture  is  rigidly  plain. 
The  elevation  was  designed  by  Addison  Hutton  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

The  dimensions  of  the  center  or  administrative  building, 
are  sixty  feet  in  width,  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  in 
depth,  and  four  stories  in  height. 

The  floor  of  the  lower  story  is  four  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  ground,  and  a basement,  seven  feet  six  inches  deep,  ex- 
tends under  the  whole  building.  The  central  portion  of  the 
cellar  corresponding  to  the  corridors  above,  is  used  as  a 
closed  air-duct  in  which  are  placed  the  pipes  and  radiators  by 
which  the  rooms  above  are  warmed  and  ventilated.  On  each 
side  ample  space  is  afforded  for  store-rooms,  bowling  alleys, 
and  a tramway  to  carry  food  from  the  kitchen  to  the  dumb- 
waiters, and  the  conveyance  of  clothing  to  and  from  the 
laundry.  The  first  story  of  the  main  building  contains,  on 
one  side  an  officers’  dining-room,  nineteen  by  nineteen  feet,  a 


195 


special  diet  kitchen,  nineteen  by  twenty-two  feet,  and  a large 
store-room,  nineteen  by  forty-two  feet.  On  the  other  side 
a room  for  the  housekeeper,  three  rooms  for  female  employes, 
a small  store-room,  a bath-room,  and  a store-room  for  the 
special  diet  kitchen,  and  a water-closet.  The  large  store- 
room, mentioned  above,  has  a slate  tile  floor,  is  fitted  up  with 
a sixteen  foot  Bramhall  & Deade  French  range  and  steak 
broiler,  jacketed  soup  and  vegetable  kettles,  with  necessary 
steam  pipes,  hot  and  cold  w^ater,  sinks,  etc.,  required  for  a 
duplicate  kitchen  whenever  repairs  or  changes  are  needed  in 
the  main  kitchen.  As  a matter  of  fact  it  has,  until  recently, 
been  devoted  to  this  purpose.  The  second,  or  principal 
story,  is  reached  through  a portico  with  a flight  of  six  steps 
on  either  side  to  a lower  landing,  ten  by  seventeen  feet,  and 
a direct  flight  of  ten  steps  to  the  main  landing,  which  is  six- 
teen by  twenty-five  feet.  Four  stone  columns,  two  feet  in 
diameter  and  seventeen  feet  in  height,  support  the  heavy 
stone  cornice  which  is  covered  by  a tin  roof.  Ornamented 
iron  railings  on  the  sides  and  in  front,  with  two  gas  lanterns 
sixteen  feet  in  height,  add  to  the  effect  of  the  noble  entrance. 
The  entrance  hall  is  fourteen  feet  wide,  one  hundred  and  six- 
teen feet  long,  and  sixteen  feet  high.  The  first  room  on  the 
right  is  the  general  business  office  of  the  medical  staff ; the 
second  is  the  clerk’s  office,  containing  a lavatory,  a store- 
room for  records  and  small  articles,  permanent  desks,  and  a 
fire-proof  safe ; the  third  room  is  devoted  to  dry  goods  and 
matron’s  stores  ; the  fourth  is  a reception  room  for  male  pa- 
tients, with  a door  opening  into  an  alcove  of  one  of  the  wards; 
the  remaining  room  on  this  southern  side  is  occupied  by  the 
assistant  matron. 

On  the  left  of  the  entrance  is  the  trustees’  room,  a large 
reception  room  for  female  patients,  a dispensary  and  medi- 
cal store-room,  and  rooms  for  the  first  assistant  physician 
and  matron.  Midway,  the  hall  is  intersected  by  a transverse 
hall,  with  broad  stairways  leading  to  upper  floors  and  to  the 
wards.  The  second  stories  above,  in  front,  contain  rooms  for 
the  superintendent  and  family,  and  other  officers ; the  rear 
of  the  third  and  part  of  the  fourth  stories  form  the  chapel,  a 


196 


commodious  room,  forty-four  feet  wide,  fifty-six  feet  long, 
and  twenty-two  feet  high,  with  oval  recess  ceiling,  finished  in 
a plain  and  neat  manner,  and  furnished  with  stationary  seats 
of  ash  and  black  walnut,  a platform  and  lecturn  of  the  same 
woods.  The  plaster  finish  of  this  hall  was  contributed  by 
Richard  S.  Fellowes  of  New  Haven,  and  the  wood-work  by 
II.  Sidney  Hayden  of  Windsor.  The  large  and  beautiful 
organ,  which  stands  in  the  rear  center  of  the  chapel,  was  pur- 
chased from  the  South  Congregational  church  for  the  sum  of 
one  thousand  dollars,  which  amount  was  contributed  by  a 
few  of  the  superintendent’s  friends.  The  instrument  was 
manufactured  by  Mr.  Johnson  of  Westfield,  Mass. 

On  either  side  of  the  administrative  building,  and  at  right 
angles  with  it,  are  situated  the  wings,  containing  the  accom- 
modations for  patients  and  their  attendants.  The  first  wing 
is  forty  feet  in  width,  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  feet  in 
length,  and  three  stories  in  height,  with  an  “ L”  or  return 
wing,  which  also  is  forty  feet  in  width,  one  hundred  and 
eight  feet  in  depth,  and  four  stories  in  height.  The  walls  are 
one  foot  eight  inches  in  thickness,  and  have  brick  linings, 
similar  to  that  described  in  the  center  building.  The  corri- 
dor and  partition  walls,  fourteen  inches  in  thickness,  are  of 
brick,  with  an  air  space  of  six  inches  in  the  center,  into 
which  are  carried  all  the  hot-air  and  ventilating  flues.  Cor- 
ridors twelve  feet  in  width  and  height  extend  the  entire 
length  of  the  wing,  with  alcoves  ten  feet  in  width  on  each 
side  adjoining  the  center  building,  for  light  and  air,  and 
large  triple  windows,  from  floor  to  ceiling,  at  the  ends.  The 
“ L”  halls  are  ten  feet  in  width,  and  at  right  angles  with 
the  corridors.  Each  ward  contains  a dining-room,  twenty 
by  twenty-one  feet,  furnished  with  china  closet,  wash  closet 
with  hot  and  cold  water  and  dumb  waiter  ; a day  or  reading- 
room,  two  associate  dormitories  for  four  and  six  patients, 
eleven  single  rooms,  two  rooms  for  patients,  seriously  ill,  shut 
off  by  a passageway  from  the  main  corridor ; one  clothes- 
room,  one  front  and  one  rear  hall  and  stairways  leading  to 
outer  doors,  affording  a ready  escape  in  case  of  fire,  and  a 
large  room  for  attendants.  In  each  hall  there  is  a water- 


197 


closet  and  wash-room  adjoining  the  bath-room.  The  water- 
closet  bowels  are  enameled  cast-iron,  funnel  shape,  and 
flushed  with  water  whenever  the  door  is  opened,  by  a spring 
attachment.  The  waste-pipe  from  the  closet  and  “ slophop- 
per  ” leads  to  the  main  soil-pipe,  and  this  has  a connection 
with  the  tall  chimney  of  the  boiler-house,  as  hereafter  de- 
scribed. The  bath-rooms  are  furnished  with  cast-iron  tubs, 
of  the  approved  pattern  of  Messrs.  Morris,  Tasker  & Co.  ot 
Philadelphia.  The  supply  of  hot  and  cold  water  and  the 
waste  pass  through  one  opening  in  the  bottom.  In  a verti- 
cal duct  from  the  basement  to  upper  stories,  opening  by  a 
door  in  each  bath-room,  is  a “ pipe-closet,”  connecting  the 
supply  of  hot  and  cold  water  with  each  bath-tub,  accessible 
only  to  the  attendant.  In  each  pipe-closet  is  a fire-plug  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  of  hose  permanently  attached; 
and  adjoining  this  a steam  drying-room,  containing  coils  ot 
iron  pipe  placed  under  a rack  upon  which  damp  clothing, 
bedding,  or  wash  rags  can  be  dried. 

The  above  description  applies  to  the  three  stories  of  first 
wing.  By  continuing  the  brick  corridor  and  partition  walls 
up  within  the  mansard  roof  which  covers  the  UL”  or  return 
wing,  a fourth-story  ward  ten  feet  six  inches  in  height  was 
obtained.  The  arrangement  of  rooms  corresponds  to  the 
story  underneath,  and  is  particularly  adapted  to  small  classes 
of  patients  who  only  require  dormitory  accommodations. 

The  second  section  or  wing  extends  in  the  same  direction, 
but  is  set  back  fifty-eight  feet  from  the  front  line  of  the  re- 
turn wing.  Like  that  it  contains  in  each  of  the  three  stories, 
a central  corridor,  twelve  feet  wide,  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  feet  long  and  twelve  feet  high,  lighted  at  the  end  near- 
est the  first  wing  by  alcoves  on  either  side,  and  a large  triple 
window  at  the  termination.  The  arrangement  of  dining- 
room, bath-room,  water-closet,  clothes  room,  and  attendants’ 
room,  is  similar  to  that  already  described.  There  is  also  a 
large  parlor,  rear  and  front  stairways,  fifteen  single  rooms, 
and  four  double  rooms.  In  addition  to  the  regular  wooden 
doors,  there  is  also  a corrugated  iron  door  on  each  story, 
which  slides  into  a pocket  in  the  wall,  which,  when  closed, 


198 


forms  a complete  fire-proof  shut  off  between  the  wings.  A 
fourth-story  ward  is  arranged  with  similar  accommodations 
to  that  of  the  first  section. 

The  interior  part  of*  the  building  is  plain  and  substantial ; 
the  wrood-wook  is  of  Georgia  yellow  pine,  oiled  and  var- 
nished. The  floors  throughout  are  laid  with  three  and  four 
inch  matched  stuff,  with  coarse  counter  floors  beneath,  deaf- 
ened by  mortar  one  inch  and  a half  in  depth.  The  lower 
stories  are  used  as  wards  for  excited  patients.  The  rooms  on 
each  side  of  the  corridor  are  fitted  with  inside  wfindow  shut- 
ters, hinged  and  locked,  with  a separate  hot-air  flue  for  each. 
Nearly  all  of  the  hot-air  flues  in  rooms  and  corridors  open 
seven  feet  above  the  floor  and  are  guarded  by  locked  regis- 
ters, plain  registers,  or  register  faces.  Every  room  has  a ven- 
tilating flue  that  begins  near  the  floor,  is  carried  up  in  the 
brick  walls  independently  of  all  other  flues  and  without  an 
opening  until  it  terminates  in  a chimney  four  feet  above  the 
roof.  Several  years’  experience  has  demonstrated  the  de- 
cided advantage  of  this  arrangement  over  the  plan  commonly 
adopted,  in  which  the  flues  terminate  in  the  attic  near  a ridge 
ventilator,  or  in  a large  common  duct  passing  horizontally 
through  the  attic,  the  air  of  which  escapes  through  windows 
or  by  means  of  a cupola.  The  advantages  are,  independent 
perpendicular  flues  with  a more  uniform  draft  from  each 
room  ; and  entire  safety  from  dangers  by  fire.  Each  venti- 
lator is  in  reality  a fire-place  or  a space  in  which  a fire  could 
be  safely  lighted.  As  a precautionary  measure  all  of  the 
stairways  are  closed  at  the  sides,  and,  in  the  recently  finished 
wings  are  of  wrought-iron  firmly  anchored  to  the  walls.  The 
rear  hallways  open  from  the  lower-story  wards  directly  into 
four  lar^e  airing  courts,  in  which  shade  trees  have  been 
planted  and  summer  houses  erected.  The  single  rooms  for 
patients  throughout  the  hospital  are  nine  feet  wide,  ten  feet 
six  inches  long,  and  twelve  feet  high.  There  are  thirty-two 
rooms  eleven  feet  wide,  twelve  feet  long,  and  twelve  feet  high, 
which  may  be  occupied  by  two  patients  or  by  a patient  and 
a special  attendant.  The  associate  dormitories  vary  in  size 
from  ten  feet  six  inches  by  eighteen  feet,  to  twenty  by 


199 


twenty-one  feet,  and  twelve  feet  high,  except  in  the  small 
fourth-story  wards  previously  described.  The  main  structure, 
exclusive  of  rear  buildings,  is  lighted  by  four  hundred  and 
seventy-four  windows  three  feet  wide  and  six  feet  high, 
eighty  windows  three  feet  wide  and  nine  feet  high,  twenty- 
four  triple  windows  nine  feet  wide  and  nine  feet  high. 
About  thirteen  thousand  square  feet  of  glass  were  required 
to  glaze  these  windows,  or  a space  to  cover  one  hundred  and 
thirteen  feet  square. 

The  rear  central  building,  which  is  sixty  feet  wTide,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  and  two  stories  high,  contains  all 
the  mechanical  departments,  and  is  situated  in  the  rear  of  the 
hospital  and  is  connected  with  it  under  ground  by  a double 
passageway  in  which  the  cars  convey  food  from  the  kitchen 
and  bakery,  and  clothing  to  and  from  the  laundry. 

Owing  to  the  favorable  slope  in  the  rear,  the  first  story  is 
on  a level  with  the  cellar  of  the  main  buildings,  and  includes 
a bakery,  a large  kitchen  and  scullery,  a laundry  and  ironing 
room,  a fire-proof  room  for  sad-iron  heater,  a fan  wheel  for 
forced  ventilation,  engine-room,  engineer’s  fitting-shop,  and 
lavatory  and  sinks.  The  second  story  embraces  the  sewing 
department,  large  dining-room,  and  twelve  rooms  for  female 
employ6s.  There  are  six  rooms  for  male  emplo);6s  over  the 
engineer’s  shop,  and  a large  sitting-room  furnished  with 
books  and  daily  papers  for  the  use  of  the  outdoor  help.  The 
boiler-house  joins  this  building,  and  has  a chimney  one  hun- 
dred and  fourteen  feet  high  and  five  feet  wide  at  the  top.  It 
contains  three  large  drop  flue  boilers  six  feet  wide  and  twenty- 
four  feet  long.  Two  of  these  are  sufficient  to  generate  all  the 
steam  required  for  mechanical  purposes,  cooking,  ventilating, 
and  heating  during  the  coldest  weather. 

A twenty-five  horse  power  engine,  manufactured  by  the 
Woodruff’  & Beach  Foundry  and  Machine  Co.  of  Hartford, 
furnishes  powTer  for  the  fan  wheel,  washing  machines,  and 
centrifugal  wringer.  The  engine-roo;n  has  a slate  tile  floor, 
and  is  ceiled  in  walnut  and  ash  woods,  oiled.  The  fan  wheel 
blower  is  five  feet  wide  and  eleven  feet  six  inches  in  diameter, 
and  has  eight  blades  bent  at  an  angle  of  ten  degrees ; air  is 


200 


admitted  from  a tower  through  an  opening  on  each  side; 
moving  at  the  rate  of  forty  revolutions  per  minute  this  blower 
forces  a constant  current  of  pure  air  through  the  duct  under 
the  corridors,  which  becomes  heated  by  the  radiators  and 
passes  directly  to  every  room  and  hall  in  the  entire  building. 

The  hospital  is  heated  by  steam  conducted  from  the  boilers 
through  a five-inch  wrought-iron  pipe  covered  with  asbestos, 
to  radiators  (Gold’s  patent)  placed  in  the  cellar  air-duct  under 
the  flues.  By  the  use  of  these  radiators  put  up  in  stacks  of 
from  ten  to  twelve  in  each  box,  the  apartments  are  severally 
heated  in  the  stories,  one  above  another. 

Experience  shows  that  a more  equal  distribution  of  heat 
would  be  obtained  by  having  the  flues  from  each  stack  of 
radiators  lead  to  one  story ; as,  in  the  present  arrangement, 
when  the  fan-wheel  is  not  moving,  the  unequal  length  of  the 
flues  creates  an  unequal  draft  by  which  the  upper  stories  are 
unduly  supplied. 

In  an  institution  of  this  character  a very  important  advan- 
tage of  illuminating  by  gas  over  other  modes  is  economy  and 
cleanliness,  and  security  against  fire.  During  the  month  of 
November,  1867,  the  board  of  trustees  made  an  arrangement 
with  the  Middletown  Gas  Light  Company  for  the  laying  of  a 
main  six-incli  pipe  from  their  works  to  the  hospital. 

In  one  respect  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane  is 
more  favorably  located  than  most  of  the  older  institutions. 
At  a distance  of  one  and  a half  miles  from  the  building  is  a 
range  of  hills  known  as  the  “ White  Rocks.”  These  hills  are 
nearly  destitute  of  soil  and  vegetation,  but  thousands  of 
springs  bubble  forth  from  crevices  in  the  rocks,  unite,  and 
form  streams  of  considerable  size  which  pass  into  the  Con- 
necticut river  through  a number  of  ravines.  On  one  of  these 
streams,  known  as  “ Trout  Brook”  or  “Butler’s  Creek,”  a 
reservoir  covering  about  two  acres  was  formed  by  making  a 
substantial  dam  across  the  ravine.  This  dam  or  embankment 
is  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  length,  fifteen  feet  in  width 
across  the  top,  with  a slant  each  way  of  eighteen  inches  to 
every  twelve  inches  perpendicular.  The  inner  slope  is  cov- 
ered with  broken  stone  ; the  top  is  four  feet  above  high  water 


mark.  A large  waste  canal,  cut  in  the  rocks  on  one  side  of 
the  dam,  carries  off  surplus  water.  The  bottom  of  the  reser- 
voir was  thoroughly  grubbed  of  vegetable  matter  and  soil 
before  being  used.  The  average  depth  of  water  is  about  six 
feet ; elevation  above  the  ground  floor  of  the  hospital  seventy- 
four  feet.  From  this  reservoir  a six-incli  iron  pipe  conveys 
the  water  to  the  building.  At  suitable  low  points  “ blow-offs’5 
were  put  in  the  main  pipe  by  which  sediment  can  be  removed. 
The  quality  of  the  water  is  unexceptionable,  and  in  ordinary 
seasons  of  sufficient  quantity  to  supply  several  institutions  of 
this  size.  During  the  greater  portion  of  the  year  the  amount 
of  water  passing  off  through  the  waste  canal  would  be  consid- 
ered sufficient  for  a good  mill  privilege.  On  the  banks  of 
this  reservoir  a substantial  ice-house,  to  store  about  one  hun- 
dred tons,  has  been  erected.  This  abundant  supply  of  water 
“by  gravity”  enables  us  to  dispense  with  costly  and  annoy- 
ing tanks  in  the  attic,  and  to  use  at  all  times  an  unlimited 
quantity  in  the  closets  and  hoppers.  All  of  the  waste  water, 
the  sewage  and  the  flowage  from  the  roofs  are  conducted  in 
cement  drains  under  ground  to  the  rear,  where  they  unite  in 
the  main  sewer,  which  is  eighteen  inches  in  diameter,  has  a 
rapid  fall,  and  terminates  two  thousand  feet  east  .of  the  hos- 
pital; from  thence  the  sewage  is  distributed  over  the  farm 
by  means  of  open  ditches  so  arranged  that  the  flowage  may 
be  turned  from  one  field  to  another  in  rotation.  Evidences 
of  the  value  of  the  plan  are  apparent  in  the  increased  fertil- 
ization. The  annual  value  of  farm  products  averages  about 
nine  thousand  dollars  ; a comparison  of  quantities  from  year 
to  year  shows  the  pleasing  fact  of  a steady  increase,  attributa- 
able  both  to  additional  labor  of  our  patients  and  to  the  im- 
proved condition  of  the  land.  It  is  our  aim  to  gradually 
bring  under  tillage  all  parts  of  the  farm,  and  by  a system  of 
drainage  and  use  of  the  house  sewage  to  enrich  and  improve 
land  which  has  been  heretofore  of  little  value. 

For  the  protection  of  stock  and  the  preservation  of  farm 
products,  a substantial  barn  was  erected  in  1869.  It  is  situ- 
ated on  a slope,  two  thousand  feet  to  the  rear  of  the  hospital, 
and  has  a sub-cellar  for  swine  and  manure,  a commodious, 


202 


sheltered,  and  ventilated  cellar  (three  sides  above  ground),  to 
accommodate  forty  cows,  and  a superstructure  of  wood  fifty- 
six  feet  in  width,  ninety  feet  in  length,  and  twenty-three  feet 
in  height,  for  the  storage  of  hay,  grain,  and  farming  imple- 
ments ; two  cow-sheds  sixty  feet  in  length  with  stalls  for 
twenty-eight  head  of  cattle  were  added  to  the  barn.  A com- 
modious slaughter-house  with  all  the  necessary  appliances  for 
heating  water,  hoisting  carcasses,  etc.,  adjoins  the  barn-yard; 
connected  with  this  building  is  a piggery  sixteen  feet  wide 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  with  pens  for  eighty 
pigs. 

During  the  past  two  years  the  grounds  immediately  sur- 
rounding the  hospital  have  been  enclosed  and  improved  by 
grading  and  drainage.  The  carriage-drives  and  walks  are 
carefully  constructed  after  the  “ Telford”  plan  by  Thomas 
McClunie  of  Hartford,  who  has  efficiently  directed  this  part 
of  the  work.  When  completed  these  pleasure-grounds,  em- 
bracing forty  acres  of  beautifully  undulating  land,  will  become 
valuable  adjuncts  in  the  proper  management  of  the  institution, 
and  nearly  all,  no  matter  what  may  be  their  mental  condition, 
will  derive  positive  benefit  from  their  regular  and  daily  use. 

At  the  principal  entrance  to  the  grounds  stands  a cottage 
“ lodge 55  or  gate-house  of  brownstone,  with  slate  roof  and 
ornamental  iron  cresting;.  It  is  arranged  to  accommodate  the 
family  of  the  gate-keeper,  who  will  have  charge  of  the  walks 
and  driveways.  Our  institution  as  yet  is  able  to  offer  but 
few  of  the  recreative  amusements  or  employments  possessed 
by  older  hospitals.  A few  games  of  harmless  nature  are 
provided,  and  the  billiard-rooms  invite  those  who  are  suffi- 
ciently restored  to  understand  and  enjoy  the  play.  One 
evening  each  week  is  devoted  to  music  and  social  enjoyments, 
which  are  participated  in  by  patients  and  attendants  under 
the  direction  of  the  officers.  Two  evenings  are  occupied  by 
concerts,  lectures,  readings,  or  stereopticon  exhibitions.  The 
chapel  has  been  regularly  used  on  the  Sabbath,  to  the  advan- 
tage and  comfort  of  our  patients.  Acknowledgments  are 
gratefully  and  sincerely  due  to  the  reverend  gentlemen  of 
Middletown  and  vicinity  who  have  cheerfully  and  regularly 


203 


conducted  the  church  or  chapel  services  since  the  opening  of 
the  hospital. 

During  the  past  four  years  a partial  trial  of  the  “cottage 
system  ” lias  been  made;  two  dwelling-houses,  situated  a few 
rods  south  of  the  main  building,  were  refitted  and  furnished  in 
a plain  manner  for  the  occupation  of  fourteen  male  and  sixteen 
female  patients,  selected  from  the  class  of  quiet  chronic  cases. 
The  buildings  are  simple  wooden  structures,  heated  by  coal 
stoves  and  lighted  by  oil  lamps.  Our  experience  is  that 
under  favorable  circumstances,  a system  of  cottages  may  be- 
come an  important  part  of  a regularly  organized  hospital. 
Cottages  substantially  constructed  of  brick  or  stone,  situated 
sufficiently  near  the  main  buildings  to  be  properly  heated  by 
steam  and  lighted  by  gas  from  the  common  center,  would  be 
a very  desirable  addition  to  the  present  methods  of  caring 
for  the  insane.  The  superintendent  could,  from  day  to  day, 
transfer  to  cottages  such  patients  as  he  found  to  require  less 
and  less  restraint  upon  personal  liberty. 

During  the  winter  of  1866  a commodious  wharf  was  con- 
structed on  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut  river,  one-tliird  of  a 
mile  from  the  hospital,  on  land  deeded  to  the  trustees  for  this 
purpose.  Nearly  all  the  stone,  brick,  and  lumbei\used  in  the 
building  were  landed  on  this  wharf;  also  the  annual  supply 
of  coal.  A substantial  coal-shed,  capable  of  storing  five 
hundred  tons,  was  erected  near  the  landing.  By  this 
arrangement  a cargo  can  be  unloaded  rapidly  at  any  season 
of  the  year  and  kept  under  cover  until  such  time  as  the 
hospital  teams  can  be  advantageously  used  in  hauling  it  to 
the  building. 

The  government  of  this  hospital  is  vested  in  twelve 
trustees.  The  following  named  gentlemen  have  been  officially 
connected  with  the  institution  in  this  capacity.  Those  in 
italics  are  still  acting. 

Ex  -Gov.  Joseph  R.  Hawley, Hartford 

Ex. -Gov.  James  E.  English,  ......  New  Haven 

Ex. -Gov.  Marshall  Jewell, Hartford 

Governor  Charles  R.  Ingersoll, New  Haven 

II.  Sidney  Hayden . Windsor 


204 


Leverett  E.  Pease, Somers 

Samuel  G.  Willard, Colchester 

Benjamin  W.  Tompkins, Norwich 

Wm.  B.  Casey,  M.D.  (deceased), Middletown 

Richard  S.  Fellowes, . New  Haven 

Rev.  Curtiss  T.  Woodruff  (removed  to  N.  Y.  city),  . Norwalk 

Robbins  Battell, Norfolk 

Benjamin  Douglas , . Middletown 

Julius  Hotchkiss , Middletown 

Rev.  Joseph  Cummings , D.D.,  LL  D.,  ....  Middletown 

Lucius  S.  Fuller , Tolland 

j Henry  Woodicard, Middletown 

Joseph  D.  Bates , Danielsonville 

Samuel  Lynes,  M.D. Norwalk 


The  associate  officers  are  appointed  by  the  board  of  trustees 
on  the  recommendation  of  the  superintendent. 

These  various  positions  have  been  filled  as  follows : 


First  Assistant  Physician, 
Second  Assistant  Physician, 
Steward,  . . 

*Steward,  .... 
Clerk,  .... 

Farmer,  .... 
Matron,  .... 

Assistant  Matron, 


Dr.  Winthrop  B.  Ilallock 
Dr.  Calvin  S.  May 
Chas.  W.  Galpin 
J.  Delos  Atherton 
Frank  B.  Weeks 
Clinton  W.  Weatlierbee 
Mrs.  Mary  Hallock 
Mrs.  Margaret  Dutton 


Melvin  B.  Copeland,  cashier  of  the  Middletown  National 
bank,  was  appointed  treasurer  in  1867,  and  has  performed 
the  duties  of  that  office  to  this  date. 

Recognizing  the  importance  of  thorough  scientific  autopsies 
in  doubtful  cases  the  board  of  trustees,  in  1870,  appointed 
Dr.  Edward  C.  Seguin,  of  New  York,  special  pathologist. 
Some  of  the  results  of  Dr.  Seguin’s  investigations  have  been 
published  with  the  annual  reports. 

The  whole  number  of  persons  employed  in  the  hospital  is 
seventy. 

The  building,  including  the  cottages  already  mentioned, 
affords  accommodations  for  four  hundred  and  fifty  patients 
and  their  attendants. 


* The  office  of  steward  was  abolished  in  1873,  and  the  office  of  clerk 
substituted. 


TREASURER’S  REPORT, 


The  following  statement  of  the  fiscal  concerns  of  “ The  General  Hospi- 
tal for  the  Insane/'  for  the  year  commencing  April  1,  1875,  and  ending 
March  31,  1876,  is  respectfully  submitted  to  the  Board  of  Trustees: 


Receipts. 

Balance  in  hands  of  Treasurer,  April  1,  1875,  . 

Revenue  account  from  the  Hospital, 

Amount  of  temporary  loan, 


Payments. 


. $4,408.45 

. 124,305.60 
9,910.75 


$138,624.80 


Amount  of  Superintendent’s  orders,  includ’g  paym’t  of  loans,  $137,420.36 
Balance  in  hand  of  Treasurer,  March  31,  1876,  . . . 1,204.44 


All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 

M.  B.  COPELAND, 


$138,624.80 


Treasurer . 


Middletown,  Conn.,  April  1,  1876. 


We  hereby  certify,  that  we  have  examined  the  vouchers  and  accounts 
of  the  Hospital,  of  which  the  above  is  an  abstract,  and  find  them  correct. 


H,  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS, 


Auditors. 


SUPERINTENDENT’S  FINANCIAL  REPORT. 


Debtor. 

1875. 

April  1.  To  cash  on  hand, 

To  balance  in  bank,  . 

1876. 

March  31.  To  Revenue  (for  year), 

Credit. 

April,  1875.  By  Vouchers, 

May,  “ “ “ 

June,  “ 

July,  “ “ “ . 

August/*  “ “ 

Sept.,  “ “ . . 

Oct.,  “ “ . 

Nov.,  “ “ “ . 

Dec.,  “ “ . 

Jan.,  1876.  “ . . 

Feb’y,  “ “ . 

March,  “ “ “ . . 

Mar.  31,“  “ Cash  on  hand,  . 

“ 31,“  “ Balance  in  bank, 


$436.95 

4,408.45 

. 124,305.60 

$129,151.00 


$11,208.83 

8,722.67 

9,562.87 

11,062.87 

12,501.44 

9.104.60 
13,310.00 
13,732.84 

9.403.60 
12,033  12 

9,625.47 

4,491.37 


124,759.68 

3,199.28 

1,192.04 


$129,151.00 


Middletown,  April  29,  1876. 

We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  accounts  and  vouchers  of 
the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane  and  find  the  same  to  be  correct. 
Also,  that  for  the  year  ending  March  31,  1876,  there  remained  in  the  hands 
of  the  treasurer  of  the  institution  $1,192  04  in  cash,  and  in  the  hands  of  the 
superintendent,  $3,199.28  in  cash,  making  a total  of  $5,391.52  cash  on 
hand  at  the  above  date. 

John  S.  Dobson,  ) Auditors  of  Accounts  of  State 
Green  Kendrick,  ) Institutions  for  1875-6. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  Greneral  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut : 

The  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane 
submit  their  eleventh  report,  together  with  the  reports  of  the 
superintendent  and  treasurer  of  the  institution. 

In  presenting  this  report  the  trustees  deem  it  a matter  for 
congratulation  that  they  have  never  had  occasion,  in  conse- 
quence of  serious  errors  or  complaints,  to  make  to  your  hon- 
orable body  or  to  the  public  an  apology,  explanations,  or 
defense  of  the  management  of  the  institution.  It  has  ever 
been  open  to  the  inspection  of  all  properly  authorized  persons, 
and  all  having  special  reasons  for  inquiry  have  received  par- 
ticular attention.  Careful  oversight  has  been  exercised  by 
the  trustees,  and  in  their  unannounced  visits  they  have 
received  the  kind  and  cordial  co-operation  of  the  officers,  who 
have  always  appeared  as  though  conscious  that  they  were 
doing  their  duty,  having  nothing  to  conceal  or  to  dread  from 
the  most  searching  examination.  The  hospital  still  main- 
tains its  high  character ; whatever  improvements  study  or 
experience  have  developed  have  been  adopted,  and  its  officers 
have  not  been  behind  others  in  devising  means  for  the  better 
care  and  improvement  of  the  unfortunate  class  over  whom 
they  have  oversight. 

During  the  year  improvements  in  the  buildings  and  grounds 
have  been  carried  forward,  and  the  most  of  those  previously 
commenced  have  been  completed.  Improvements  have  been 
made  as  rapidly  as  the  means  of  the  institution  would  permit. 
They  have  been  carefully  considered,  and  so  ordered  as  to 
secure  the  best  results.  Imperfections  in  the  buildings  have 
been  remedied,  and  such  changes  made  as  experience  has 


208 


suggested.  The  policy  has  been  to  suffer  no  part  of  the 
property  to  deteriorate.  In  all  respects  the  buildings  and 
grounds  of  the  hospital  are  in  a better  condition  than  they 
have  ever  been  before.  Other  important  improvements  are 
under  consideration,  which  will  be  made  as  soon  as  practica- 
ble. Thus  far  no  special  aid  for  such  purposes  has  been 
solicited  from  the  State.  The  hospital  has  passed  the  most 
difficult  and  perilous  period  in  the  existence  of  such  institu- 
tions. Its  resources  are  understood,  systematically  arranged, 
and  efficiently  managed,  and  the  trustees  indulge  the  hope 
that  at  no  distant  day  they  may  be  able  to  reduce  the  expenses 
of  its  inmates. 

Special  attention  is  called  to  the  statements  in  the  able 
report  of  the  superintendent  relative  to  the  improvements  in 
the  grounds,  the  employment  of  the  insane  and  the  means  for 
their  recreation  and  amusement,  new  forms  of  which  have 
been  introduced  the  past  year. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  urge  that  skillful  medical  treatment, 
proper  food,  and  care  as  to  regularity  of  habits,  are  not  all 
that  should  be  expected  of  a hospital.  Great,  and  in  many 
cases  equal,  benefit  may  be  derived  from  judicious  employ- 
ment, varied  amusements,  and  pleasant  surroundings,  such 
as  well-arranged  grounds,  ornamented  with  trees,  shrubs,  and 
flowers.  Influences  derived  from  these  sources  powerfully 
tend  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  insane,  to  correct  the  mor- 
bid action  of  their  faculties,  and  give  a healthy  tone  to  the 
activities  of  their  bodily  and  mental  powers.  One  result  of 
this  institution  has  been  the  lessening  of  restraint, till  only  a very 
few  inmates,  and  for  very  special  reasons,  are  subjected  to  it. 

There  have  been  admited  to  the  hospital  since  it  was 
opened  1,360  persons,  and  as  readmitted  patients  are  not 
counted  a second  time,  this  number  indicates  so  many  differ- 
ent persons.  Of  these  212  have  died,  257  have  been  discharged 
as  recovered,  223  as  improved,  and  202  discharged  with  no 
special  change  in  their  condition. 

In  estimating  the  good  accomplished  we  must  not  only 
consider  the  lessening  of  the  misery  and  the  increase  of  the 


209 


happiness  of  all  the  inmates,  the  inestimable  blessings  secured 
to  those  restored  to  health  and  reason,  but  also  the  blessing 
to  the  families  and  friends  of  the  afflicted.  They  have  been 
relieved  from  the  great  suffering  imposed  upon  them  by  their 
difficult  and  perilous  responsibility,  the  duties  of  which, 
through  want  of  information  and  through  the  pressure  of 
other  duties,  they  were  unable  to  discharge.  To  many  the 
hospital  has  given  the  joy  of  receiving  back  as  alive  those 
who  in  a terrible  sense  to  them  were  dead. 

The  number  in  the  hospital  at  the  date  of  this  report  is  466. 
The  average  daily  number  during  the  year  has  been  456.97. 

There  are  many  applications  for  admission,  and  among  them 
seventy  women.  A much  larger  number  would  be  enrolled 
if  any  encouragement  of  an  early  admission  could  be  given. 
As  only  twenty-eight  females  were  discharged  since  the  last 
report,  months  must  pass  before  those  enrolled  can  be  admit- 
ted. This  state  of  things  is  every  way  unfortunate.  Could 
the  hospital  receive  acute  cases  at  the  commencement  of  the 
attack  it  would  accomplish  far  more  efficient  work  at  much  less 
cost.  After  a long  delay,  when  acute  cases  have  become 
chronic,  not  more  than  one-tenth  recover  of  those  who  might 
have  been  restored  had  they  been  placed  under  proper  treat- 
ment at  the  commencement  of  the  attack. 

In  the  report  of  the  trustees  of  this  hospital  for  1868  statis- 
tics are  given  showing  that  the  cost  of  supporting  an  old 
chronic  case  is  about  thirty-five  times  greater  than  the  average 
cost  of  a new  case.  This  disparity  results  from  the  fact  that 
the  recent  cases  are  soon  cured  and  discharged,  while  the 
old  or  chronic  cases  are  kept  on  indefinitely.  Prom  consid- 
erations of  humanity  and  economy  it  would  appear  that  there 
is  an  urgent  necessity  for  additional  provision  for  the  insane 
in  our  State. 

The  trustees  and  the  superintendent  have  repeatedly  urged 
this  subject  on  the  attention  of  the  legislature. 

Considering  the  number  to  whom  admission  has  been 
refused,  the  number  discharged  to  make  room  for  more 
urgent  cases,  the  number  awaiting  admission,  the  number 
14 


210 


sent  from  this  State  to  hospitals  in  other  States,  the  large 
number  known  to  be  in  almshouses,  and  the  number  in  private 
families,  we  are  confident  there  are  several  hundred  insane 
persons  belonging  to  this  State  who  need  hospital  treatment 
and  accommodation. 

As  the  trustees  do  not  deem  it  desirable  to  enlarge  this 
hospital,  they  earnestly  urge  the  importance  of  immediate 
provision  for  the  erection  of  a new  hospital,  which  shall  fur- 
nish accommodation  for  those  who,  in  their  suffering  and 
calamity,  are  denied  a participation  in  the  provision  the  State 
has  made  for  the  insane. 

The  official  terms  of  the  members  from  Hartford  and  Tol- 
land counties  expire  this  year. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 


CHARLES  R.  INGERSOLL, 
H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 
RICHMOND  M.  BULLOCK, 
RICHARD  S.  FELLOWES, 
HENRY  WOODWARD, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 

EZRA  P.  BENNETT,  M.D., 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS, 
JULIUS  HOTCHKISS, 


New  Haven . 

Windsor. 

Tolland. 

Colchester. 

Putnam. 

New  Haven. 

Middletoivn . 

Norfolk. 

Danbury . 

Middletown. 

Middletown. 

Middletown. 


EE  PORT  OF  SUPERIiS  TEEDEjX  T. 


Connecticut  Hospital  for  Insane, 

Middletown,  November  30,  1876. 

To  the  Board  of  Trustees : 

Gentlemen,  — In  compliance  with  Chapter  YI,  Section  1, 
of  “ Public  Acts,”  passed  at  the  last  session  of  the  General 
Assembly,  the  fiscal  year  of  this  institution  is  made  to  end 
on  this  the  30th  day  of  November,  instead  of  on  the  31st 
day  of  March  ; consequently  this,  the  eleventh  report,  in- 
cludes statistical  tables  of  patients,  details  of  farm  products, 
and  the  financial  statement  of  a period  of  eight  months. 

As  I have  recently  furnished  an  extended  history  of  the 
hospital  during  its  first  ten  years,  I need  only  direct  atten- 
tion briefly  to  some  particulars  regarding  its  progress  since 
last  March.  During  this  period  the  officers  of  the  institu- 
tion have  had  their  ingenuity  called  into  exercise  to  provide 
accommodations  for  new  patients.  Their  labors  have  been 
increased  from  the  fact  that  all  the  while  the  hospital  has 
been  overcrowded,  so  that  whenever  a vacancy  occurred  there 
were  several  patients  waiting  to  occupy  the  vacated  beds. 
The  perplexing  difficulties  from  this  crowded  condition  can 
only  be  appreciated  by  those  who  have  passed  through  simi- 
lar experiences.  In  the  endeavor  to  receive  persons  who 
most  needed  hospital  care,  we  may  have  unintentionally 
caused  disappointment  to  worthy  applicants. 

At  the  date  of  the  last  report  there  were  in  the  institution 
four  hundred  and  sixty  patients  — ten  more  than  could  be 
conveniently  or  safely  accommodated  — about  equally  divided 
between  the  sexes.  The  admissions  during  eight  months 
have  been  eighty-eight,  viz.,  fifty-nine  men  and  twenty-nine 
women. 


212 


Sixty-seven  have  been  discharged,  forty-five  men  and 
twenty-two  women,  and  fifteen  have  died,  nine  men  and  six 
women,  leaving  now  on  the  register  four  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  patients,  viz.,  two  hundred  and  thirty-two  men  and  two 
hundred  and  thirty-four  women. 

The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  deaths  in  each 
year,  the  percentage  of  the  average  number,  and  the  percent- 
age of  the  whole  number  present  during  each  year  : 

DEATHS  AND  THEIR  RATIOS,  FROM  MAY  1,  1868,  TO  NO- 
VEMBER 30,  1876. 


Official  Year. 

Whole  Number  of 
Patients. 

Daily  Average 
Number  of 
Patients. 

Deaths. 

Percent,  on  whole 
Number  of 
Patients. 

Per  cent,  on  Daily 
Average  Number 
of  Patients. 

Men. 

Women. 

Total. 

1868-69, 

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17:57 

1869-70, 

343 

225  17 

18 

3 

21 

6.12 

9.32 

1870-71, 

307 

237. 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72, 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-73, 

336 

264.53 

12 

9 

21 

6 25 

7.86 

1873-74, 

524 

339  51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75, 

605 

425.80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76, 

616 

452.64 

16 

7 

33 

5.35 

7.31 

1876, 

548 

456.97 

9 

6 

15 

2.73 

3.28* 

You  observe  that  the  percentage  of  deaths  on  the  whole 
number  of  patients  during  a period  of  eight  months  is  only 
2.73.  Of  these  six  were  over  sixty,  and  two  over  eighty 
years  of  age.  One  only  lived  six  days,  and  another  one 
month  and  twenty  days  after  admission,  but  the  majority 
had  been  residents  in  the  hospital  for  some  years. 

The  relatively  large  number  of  admissions  and  discharges 
of  males  should  not  be  regarded  as  an  indication  of  more 
prevalent  insanity  in  that  sex,  nor  of  better  care  or  more 
skillful  treatment  while  in  the  hospital.  More  likely  is  it 
due  to  the  fact  that  we  have  been  able  to  admit  promptly 
nearly  all  male  applicants,  thus  receiving  a larger  proportion 


A period  of  eight  months. 


213 


of  acute  cases,  who  recover  or  die  within  a few  months,  and 
leave  vacancies  for  others.  The  chronic  insane  male  is  some- 
what useful  at  home  or  in  the  community,  being  capable  to 
perform  outdoor  work,  which  furnishes  a partial  support, 
and  so  by  exercise  he  is  more  quiet  at  night  and  less  turbu- 
lent by  day.  The  chronic  insane  woman,  restricted  to  in- 
door duties,  has  relatively  fewer  means  of  being  diverted  or 
employed,  and  is  also  less  liable  to  exposure  and  hardships, 
and  consequently  lives  longer  as  an  insane  person.  These 
natural  laws  working  continuously  for  a series  of  years  in  an 
established  community  like  that  of  New  England  have  pro- 
duced a condition  of  society  such  as  might  reasonably  be  ex- 
pected, viz.,  a larger  proportion  of  insane  women  than  men, 
and  a growing  desire  on  the  part  of  friends  and  public 
officials  to  have  them  provided  for  in  institutions  expressly 
planned  for  the  purpose.  This  seems  to  be  an  explanation 
of  our  experiences  in  1869,  when  the  .first  wing  was  opened 
for  women,  and  the  entire  space  occupied  within  one  week  ; 
and  again  in  1872,  when  the  new  wings  were  completed,  they 
were  filled  in  an  incredibly  short  period  of  time  with  turbu- 
lent chronic  cases. 

In  former  reports  I have  alluded  to  various  means  em- 
ployed to  divert,  amuse,  and  occupy  such  of  our  patients  as 
were  not  in  condition  to  engage  in  outdoor  labor.  Besides 
our  regular  entertainments  of  music,  dancing,  concerts,  lec- 
tures, stereopticon  exhibitions,  readings,  etc.,  which  occupy 
four  evenings  each  week,  our  male  patients  have  found  pleas- 
ure and  profit  in  a systematic  course  of  outdoor  military 
drilling,  which  was  conceived  as  a valuable  training  exercise 
for  insane  men,  and  has  been  carried  into  useful  practice  by 
our  worthy  supervisor,  Colonel  Thayer.  So  far  as  I am 
aware,  this  is  a new  feature  in  hospital  management,  and 
you  will  bear  with  me  for  alluding  to  it  with  considerable 
minuteness. 

Early  in  the  season  walking  parties  were  formed  of  from 
ten  to  fifty  persons,  who  would  leave  the  grounds  and  spend 
an  hour  or  two,  and  sometimes  a whole  afternoon,  in  roam- 


214 


ing  about  the  hills  gathering  flowers  or  picking  berries.  As 
the  season  advanced,  Colonel  Thayer  gradually  and  almost 
imperceptibly  formed  those  from  the  different  wards  into 
distinct  companies,  officered  by  their  respective  attendants. 
These  companies  would  go  out  daily  and  practice  at  military 
evolutions.  I am  free  to  confess  my  surprise  at  the  progress 
made  and  at  the  proficiency  attained  by  many  of  the  chronic 
insane  who  had  been  turbulent,  restless,  and  noisy,  or  list- 
less, desponding,  and  partially  demented.  These  exercises 
were  practiced  one  or  two  hours  daily  by  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty,  and  on  Saturday  afternoons  a regular  dress  parade 
and  inspection  occurred,  whenever  the  weather  was  favorable, 
at  which  some  of  the  officers  “ reviewed  ” the  “ troops”.  It 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  these  companies  were  formed 
of  men  who  were  not  considered  available  for  farm  labor,  or, 
in  other  words,  of  that  large  class  of  epileptic,  maniacal,  and 
demented  patients  found  in  every  hospital,  who  spent  their 
time  in  the  airing  courts  or  in  the  wards. 

About  forty  per  cent,  of  all  the  men  are  regularly  em- 
ployed on  the  farm  and  grounds.  One  of  the  results  of  this 
form  of  military  exercise  and  discipline  was  a steady  increase 
in  the  number  of  those  who  were  able  to  be  employed  on  the 
farm,  so  that  on  pleasant  days  not  more  than  a half  dozen 
men,  out  of  a total  of  two  hundred  and  thirty,  would  be 
found  inside  the  building. 

Another  pleasant  effect  of  this  form  of  amusement  and 
exercise  was  observable  in  the  quietness  and  order  which 
prevailed  in  the  house.  The  universal  quietness  at  night 
was  equally  noticeable.  Rarely  was  a sleeping  dose  of  seda- 
tive medicine  required ; and  from  records  accurately  kept  I 
am  able  to  report  the  absence,  for  weeks  at  a time,  of  all 
forms  of  mechanical  restraint.  Even  now,  with  an  over- 
crowded house  and  many  unfavorable  cases  occupying  the 
wards,  only  one  male  patient  — a destructive  paretic  — is 
subjected  to  personal  restraint.  Much  credit  is  due,  and  I 
cheerfully  award  it  in  this  public  manner,  to  my  associates 
and  the  corps  of  attendants  who  have  earnestly  and  at  con- 


215 


siderable  personal  inconvenience  seconded  all  of  our  efforts 
in  this  direction.  To  properly  care  for  the  insane  is  at  all 
times  arduous  labor.  It  becomes  doubly  so  when  any  new 
system  or  method  of  government  is  being  established. 

In  introducing  this  system  of  out-door  life,  the  recently 
completed  lawns  and  Telfordized  walks  have  afforded  us 
ample  space  at  all  times.  Without  these  improvements  it 
would  have  been  simply  impossible  to  organize  and  drill  a 
company  of  men  unaccustomed  to  military  evolutions.  No 
expenditure  of  money  since  the  commencement  of  this  hos- 
pital has  been  more  judiciously  made  or  thoroughly  appreci- 
ated. Those  of  us  who  have  lived  here  during  the  past  nine 
years,  accustomed  to  stumble  over  building  debris,  hum- 
mocks, stones,  and  ditches,  or  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
year,  to  sink  into  mud  ankle  deep  whenever  a step  was  taken 
out  of  the  ordinary  path,  may  not  be  considered  impartial 
witnesses  ; but  we  can  at  least  claim  the  privilege  of  express- 
ing our  satisfaction  and  pleasure  at  the  completion  of  the 
work.  It  has  been  done  in  the  most  thorough  manner,  and, 
judging  from  universal  praise,  in  good  taste.  Many  years 
will  be  required  to  plant  adequately  and  develop  with  shrub- 
bery and  shade-trees  the  beauty  of  our  lawn.  Believing  thor- 
oughly in  the  advantages  of  pleasant  out-door  surroundings 
in  the  treatment  of  the  insane,  I earnestly  solicit  you  to  con- 
tinue improvements  in  this  direction.  I also  request  your 
attention  to  the  condition  of  the  old  house  which  has  been 
used,  during  the  past  five  years,  as  a “ cottage  ” for  quiet 
chronic  male  patients.  Suitable  repairs  were  made  to  this 
building  when  first  occupied ; it  has  served  a good  purpose 
in  providing  a comfortable  home  for  fifteen  men.  It  was  an 
old  house,  and  the  repairs  tlien  made  only  strengthened  for 
a time  a dilapidated  shell. 

The  south  cottage,  occupied  by  women,  is  more  substantial 
and  in  good  repair,  and  will  be  serviceable  for  some  years. 
There  have  been  but  few  changes  among  the  attendants 
during  the  period  covered  by  this  report,  and  we  retain  the 
experienced  services  of  some  who  have  for  years  faithfully 
and  diligently  served  the  institution. 


216 


The  hospital  farm,  under  its  efficient  management,  has 
continued  a source  of  profit  to  the  institution.  Improvements 
in  underdraining,  grading,  and  fence-building  have  been 
made.  These  various  kinds  of  out-door  work  afford  oppor- 
tunity to  such  male  patients  as  we  believed  would  be  bene- 
fited by  the  change.  A larger  number  have  been  thus  em- 
ployed than  during  any  previous  year.  For  tabulated  details 
respecting  farm  products  I refer  you  to  the  accompanying 
tables. 

Religious  exercises,  conducted  by  clergymen  of  different 
denominations,  have  been  regularly  held  in  the  chapel  on 
Sabbath  afternoons.  A service  of  praise,  consisting  of  vocal 
and  instrumental  music,  in  which  all  having  voice  or  musical 
knowledge  could  take  part,  was  established  early  in  Septem- 
ber. Thus  an  hour  is  pleasantly  spent  in  the  chapel  every 
Sabbath  evening.  To  many  kind  friends  we  are  indebted 
for  assistance  at  our  weekly  entertainments.  Under  this 
recognition  I would  gratefully  mention  the  members  of  the 
choir  of  the  South  Congregational  Church  of  Middletown,  for 
a concert  in  April.  The  Middletown  Dramatic  Association 
is  also  entitled  to  special  mention  for  an  evening  entertain- 
ment, consisting  of  music  and  character  representations. 
Lectures,  concerts,  and  readings  have  been  frequently  held, 
together  with  stereopticon  exhibitions.  Books,  magazines, 
and  papers  for  the  use  of  patients  have  been  received  from 
Miss  Tompkins,  Mrs.  Clias.  E.  Hall,  and  M.  B.  Copeland  of 
Middletown,  Mrs.  Fellowes  of  New  Haven,  and  Mrs.  Chas. 
Perry  of  Southport.  The  Evangelical  Knowledge  Society 
has  furnished  regularly  six  copies  of  the  Parish  Visitor . In 
addition  to  the  above,  thirty-two  persons  contributed  five 
dollars  each  towards  the  purchase  of  books  for  the  library. 
We  are  also  under  obligations  to  the  publishers  of  daily  and 
weekly  papers  in  the  State  for  gratuitous  copies  of  their  pub- 
lications. It  is  again  my  pleasant  duty  to  acknowledge  with 
sincere  gratitude  the  regular  reception  of  flowers  and  bou- 
quets from  the  “Flower  Mission”  connected  with  the  South 
Congregational  Church  Sabbath-school. 


217 


Before  closing,  I desire  to  express  my  hearty  thanks  to  the 
officers  for  their  intelligent  co-operation,  undeviating  support, 
and  personal  kindness.  We  have  labored  together  for  many 
years  in  a special  field  of  charitable  work,  which  is  peculiarly 
open  to  adverse  criticism.  We  have  been  mortified,  often, 
to  find  that  our  best  efforts  were  misunderstood,  and  our 
motives  questioned.  This  is,  perhaps,  inseparable  from  the 
care  of  the  insane  ; yet  the  thought  does  not  wholly  remove 
the  mental  sting  caused  by  unjust  reproaches  from  persons 
whom  we  have  carefully  watched  through  the  various  stages 
of  mental  derangement.  This  is,  perhaps,  a sufficient  reason 
why  none  of  us  should  remain  too  long  engaged  in  this  field 
of  labor.  Enough  has  been  said  to  show  that,  during  the 
past  eight  months,  a spirit  of  progress  has  been  maintained, 
and  that  there  has  continued  to  pervade  the  management  of 
the  institution  a healthy  degree  of  active  and  vigorous  life. 
In  conclusion,  I desire  to  express  my  deep  obligations  to  the 
members  of  your  board  who,  by  intelligent  co-operation  and 
personal  kindness,  have  greatly  assisted  in  sharing  the  bur-4 
dens  of  another  year. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

ABRAM  MARVIN  SHEW,  ' 

Superintendent . 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut : 

The  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane 
herewith  respectfully  present  to  the  legislature  their  twelfth 
annual  report,  together  with  reports  of  the  superintendent 
and  treasurer. 

The  largest  number  in  the  hospital  on  any  one  day  has 
been  476.  There  are  now  235  males  and  234  females.  It 
will  be  seen  that  the  hospital  has  been  crowded  during  the 
whole  time.  There  are  over  60  waiting  for  admission.  The 
applications  are  served  in  turn,  but  as  the  greater  number 
are  for  the  female  wards,  the  delay  is  often  of  months, 
during  which  the  illness  becomes  seriously  worse,  and  in 
some  instances  hopeless.  The  burden  of  the  care  in  their 
own  homes  of  these  mentally  diseased,  and  the  sorrow  of 
heart  of  their  friends  while  waiting  for  special  treatment 
required,  it  would  be  difficult  to  estimate.  Those  who  have 
had  to  endure  this  trial  can  best  do  so. 

It  has  been  often  stated  in  reports  to  the  legislature  that 
the  disease  of  insanity  is  rapidly  increasing.  Connecticut  is 
not  worse  off  as  to  this  increase  than  other  States,  nor 
than  countries  in  Europe.  It  is  computed  that  about  400  in 
this  State  are  needing  hospital  accommodations.  Modern 
civilization,  of  which  we  are  glad  to  boast,  and  which  brings 
us  so  much  to  enjoy,  brings  also  to  us  many  evils  and  un- 
pleasant responsibilities.  Insanity  is  one  of  these  evils,  and 
the  care  of  the  insane  one  of  the  grave  public  responsibilities. 
Insanity  is  a peculiar  disease  and  the  insane  require  peculiar 
treatment  in  suitable  hospitals.  Safety  of  friends  and  of  the 
public  demands  such  seclusion  for  them.  The  insane  are  not 


219 


properly  to  be  regarded  as  mere  paupers  — they  are  a pecu- 
liarly afflicted  class,  who  need  more  than  clothing,  shelter, 
and  food.  During  the  continuance  of  their  disease  they 
should  have  experienced  medical  care,  special  surroundings 
and  restraints,  and  comforts,  suited  to  restore  their  minds  to 
healthy  action. 

In  many  cases  over-work  and  poor  food  have  brought  on 
the  disease  — the  anxieties  of  business  and  family,  or  the 
treadmill  work  of  daily  duties,  have  been  too  much  for  the 
physical  and  mental  constitution,  and  the  brain  becomes  over 
excited  or  bewildered  or  dangerously  sluggish.  The  removal 
from  accustomed  scenes  of  trouble  and  from  the  wearing 
friction  of  their  daily  lives,  is  necessary  to  give  their  minds 
rest  and  diversion.  Medicine,  good  plain  food  with  fresh 
air  and  some  amusements,  will,  in  many  cases,  if  the  change 
is  promptly  made,  in  a short  stay  in  a hospital  produce  a cure. 

Christianity,  humanity,  and  true  economy  properly  demand 
that  the  State  should  do  what  individuals  cannot  do  — pro- 
vide suitable  accommodations  for  the  mentally  diseased. 
Incorporate  and  private  institutions  are  never  adequate  to 
the  care  of  the  insane  of  a State. 

Connecticut  has  only  one  hospital  and  urgently  needs 
another  of  similar  grade  with  every  approved  internal  ap- 
pliance to  remedy  the  evil  of  insanity.  Local  and  town 
shelters  for  the  insane  have  neither  the  means  nor  the  skill 
to  provide  suitably  for  them.  Their  support  is  properly  a 
general  burden,  and  the  State  may,  with  the  highest  propriety 
and  for  the  greatest  economy,  provide  liberally  for  this 
unfortunate  class.  The  trustees  earnestly  hope  that  the  State 
of  Connecticut  will  make  appropriation  for  a new  hospital 
and  appoint  a faithful  board  of  trustees  to  erect  a new  hos- 
pital, plain  in  architecture  and  a model  of  excellence  for  its 
uses  worthy  of  the  character  and  standing  of  the  State. 

The  general  condition  of  health  in  this  institution  during 
the  year  has  been  good  ; the  details  will  be  found  in  the 
superintendent’s  report.  The  means  devised  for  the  occupa- 
tion, recreation,  and  amusement  of  the  inmates  have  had 
beneficial  influence. 


220 


A good  deal  of  attention  has  been  given  during  the  year 
to  maintaining  the  buildings  and  inside  rooms  and  closets  in 
repair.  Our  construction  is  nearly  completed,  and  our  in- 
come is  adequate  to  run  the  institution  economically.  In 
view  of  the  widespread  call  for  economy  in  the  management 
of  all  public  institutions,  and  of  our  sincere  wishes  to  meet 
it,  we  have  resolved  at  the  December  meeting  to  further 
reduce  the  price  of  board  from  $4.50  to  $4.00  from  1st 
December,  1877,  henceforth  charging  to  the  towns  $2.00  a 
week  to  each  of  their  indigent  patients.  We  shall  faithfully 
try  to  keep  our  outgoes  within  our  income,  so  as  not  to  be 
obliged  to  call  for  any  assistance  from  the  State.  In  regard 
to  statements  of  low  prices  of  board  in  some  institutions  in 
other  States,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  and  widely  known 
that  in  some  of  the  States  which  have  been  quoted  there  is 
a separate  special  appropriation  made  at  each  legislative  ses- 
sion for  the  salaries  of  the  officials  and  for  the  coal  used  in 
the  institutions.  In  justice  to  our  management,  this  should 
be  thus  publicly  stated,  as  our  schedule  of  cost  includes  every 
expense  and  outlay  for  the  institution,  including  salaries, 
coal,  gas,  etc.,  etc. 

It  has  been  discussed  in  our  meetings  whether  some  light 
occupation  could  be  provided  in  rooms  or  shops  supplied  with 
tools,  for  our  able-bodied,  well-disposed  patients,  and  which 
labor  would  be  profitable  in  a money  way,  either  by  doing 
work  for  which  the  hospital  has  now  to  pay,  or  of  which  the 
products  could  be  sold  for  its  benefit. 

The  remedial  effect  of  occupation  in  cases  of  mental  dis- 
ease has  been  frequently  mentioned.  No  decision  has  been 
reached  as  yet. 

The  term  of  office  of  the  trustees  of  New  London  and 
Windham  counties  expires  this  year,  and  we  respectfully 
request  their  re-election.  We  are  happy  to  state  that  the 
superintendent,  Dr.  A.  M.  Shew,  who  has  been  absent  a large 
part  of  the  year  on  account  of  illness,  has  returned  to  his 
post  with  renewed  vigor  and  restored  health,  and  has  entered 
on  the  duties  of  his  office  with  his  usual  earnestness  and  skill. 


221 


During  Ins  absence  Dr.  Calvin  S.  May  was  acting  superin- 
tendent. He  managed  the  affairs  of  the  hospital  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  trustees,  and  has  shown  that  he  is 
eminently  qualified  for  so  important  and  responsible  a posi- 
tion. 

The  blessing  of  God  has  rested  upon  the  work  committed 
to  the  trustees  and  officers  of  this  important  branch  of  the 
State  charities. 

Respectfully  submitted, 


RICHARD  D.  HUBBARD,  Hartford. 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD,  Colchester. 
RICHMOND  M.  BULLOCK,  Putnam. 
RICHARD  S.  PELLOWES,  New  Haven. 
HENRY  WOODWARD,  Middletown. 
ROBBINS  BATTELL,  Norfolk. 
EZRA  P.  BENNETT,  M.D ., Danbury. 

H.  SYDNEY  HAYDEN,  Windsor. 
LUCIUS  S.  FULLER,  Tolland. 
JULIUS  HOTCHKISS,  Middletown. 
JOSEPH  CUMMINGS,  Middletown. 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS,  Middletown. 

Middletown,  November  80, 1877. 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


Middletown,  Nov.  30, 1877. 

To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane : 

Gentlemen, — In  presenting  the  twelfth  report  of  this  in- 
stitution for  the  fiscal  year  ending  November  30,  1877,  I 
would  direct  your  attention  especially  to  the  statistical  pages, 
embodying,  as  they  do  in  tabular  form,  the  results  of  our  la- 
bor. Four  hundred  and  sixty-six  (466)  patients  remained  at 
the  date  of  the  last  report.  One  hundred  and  fifty-three 
(153)  have  since  been  admitted,  a total  of  six  hundred  and 
nineteen  (619)  under  treatment  during  the  year,  thirty-one 
(31)  of  whom  have  died,  forty-one  (41)  were  discharged 
cured,  forty-four  (44)  much  improved,  and  thirty-four  (34) 
were  returned  to  friends  or  public  officials  without  change 
in  mental  condition,  thus  leaving  four  hundred  and  sixty- 
nine  (469)  under  treatment  at  this  date.  The  youngest 
persons  received  were  two  (2)  males  aged  eighteen  (18). 
The  oldest  person  admitted  was  a female  aged  ninety  (90). 
There  are  at  this  date  residents  of  the  hospital  two  (2)  fe- 
males aged  ninety  (90),  one  eighty-five  (85),  one  eighty-four 
(84),  and  three  (3)  males  aged  respectively  seventy-nine  (79), 
seventy-eight  (78),  and  seventy-four  (74).  The  experience 
of  the  past  year  in  respect  to  the  classes  of  society  and  kinds 
of  occupation  from  which  the  largest  number  of  insane  pa- 
tients is  derived  confirm  those  of  former  years  and  of  other 
institutions.  Twenty-one  (21)  farmers  and  twenty-six  (26) 
farmers’  wives  or  daughters,  ten  (10)  laborers,  and  seventeen 
(17)  domestics,  a total  of  seventy-four  (74)  persons  out  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty-three  (153)  were  admitted  in  varying 


223 


stages  of  mental  disease.  Thus  it  will  be  observed  that  those 
kinds  of  employment  which  require  physical  effort  without 
corresponding  mental  activity  produce  the  largest  percentage 
of  cases  of  insanity.  Undoubtedly  exposure  to  cold,  moist- 
ure, and  bad  air,  with  deficient  or  unwholesome  nourishment, 
has  had  much  to  do  in  originating  the  disease  in  this  class  of 
society.  But  a greater  influence  can  be  traced  directly  to 
the  lack  of  mental  culture  and  the  worry  resulting  from 
a struggle  with  poverty  and  its  kindred  evils.  I would  re- 
spectfully call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  number  of 
persons  charged  with  criminal  acts  and  who  in  our  courts  are 
acquitted  on  the  ground  of  insanity  is  steadily  increasing: 
seventeen  (17)  of  this  class — fourteen  (14)  men  and  three 
(3)  women  — were  sent  to  the  hospital  during  the  year  by 
the  courts.  While  admitting  that  all  but  one  of  these  per- 
sons were  insane,  and  that  one  an  inebriate  and  should  have 
hospital  care,  I would  respectfully  ask  why  they  are  permit- 
ted to  take  precedence  of  the  virtuous  insane.  In  other 
words,  Why  should  they  be  admitted  out  of  the  regular  order, 
while  perhaps  fifty  or  more  innocent  persons  who  had  made 
the  needful  previous  application  are  obliged  to  wait  until  va- 
cancies occur? 

Herewith  is  appended  a copy  of  “ an  act  reducing  the  price 
to  be  paid  by  the  State  for  the  support  of  indigent  and  insane 
persons,”  passed  by  the  last  General  Assembly  and  duly  ap- 
proved by  his  Excellency  Governor  Hubbard  on  the  23d  day 
of  March,  1877.  By  the  provisions  of  this  law  the  support 
of  indigent  patients  (not  paupers)  is  chargeable  to  the  towns 
where  they  reside  and  to  the  friends  making  the  application, 
instead  of  to  the  State  and  friends  as  heretofore.  No  change 
is  made  respecting  town  paupers  other  than  reducing  the 
amount  paid  by  the  State  from  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  to 
two  dollars. 

The  following  table  of  deaths  and  their  ratios  will  show 
the  percentage  in  each  year  since  May  1,  1868: 


224 


Deaths  and  their  Ratios  from  May  1,  1868,  to  Nov.  30,  1877. 


Ui 

03 

0> 

>> 

as 

Ph 

<4-1 

o 

6 

o 

<u 

si 
s jj 

aj  ♦-> 

DEATHS. 

<D 

la 

5! 

e » 

Q. 

^o5 

•5-g 

'C  c 

c ©.! 
Z ti 

*3 

o 

Wbolc 

tienti 

. 03 

go 

Men. 

Women. 

Total. 

3 3 
o . 
f_  o 

o Z 

o £ 5 
P % o 

1868-69 

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17.57 

1869-70 

343 

225.17 

18 

3 

21 

6.12 

9.32 

1870-71 

307 

237 

11 

10 

21 

6 71 

8.86 

1871-72 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-73 

336 

264.53 

12 

9 

21 

6.25 

7.86 

1873-74 

524 

339.51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75 

605 

425.80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76 

616 

452.64 

16 

7 

33 

5 35 

7.31 

1876 
Dec.  1, 

548 

456.97 

9 

6 

15 

2.73 

3.28 

’76-Nov. 
30,  '77 

619 

463.88 

19 

12 

31 

5.01 

6.69 

Nineteen  (19)  men  and  twelve  (12)  women  died  during 
the  year,  nine  of  whom  — an  unusually  large  number — had 
tuberculosis  (consumption)  in  some  of  its  forms;  two  of  the 
others  were  apoplectic  and  three  were  cases  of  paresis.  The 
general  health  of  the  patients  has  been  good ; nearly  all  the 
deaths  have  been  the  result  of  chronic  and  exhausting  affec- 
tions rather  than  of  acute  disorders.  Referring  to  table  No. 
1 , which  gives  a correct  movement  of  the  hospital  population, 
you  observe  that  forty-one  (41)  persons  have  been  discharged 
“ recovered.”  I am  quite  sure  you  can  rely  upon  the  correct- 
ness of  this  table.  It  has  always  been  our  aim  to  exclude 
doubtful  cases  and  include  only  those  who  had  shown  positive 
evidence  of  mental  restoration.  Among  the  forty-four  (44) 
persons  reported  discharged  improved  were  several  who  had 
recovered,  but  the  period  of  convalescence  had  been  too  brief 
to  insure  beyond  a doubt  continued  mental  health.  It  may 
reasonably  be  asked  why  they  were  allowed  to  leave  the  hospi 
tal  when  perhaps  a longer  residence  of  only  a few  weeks  would 
have  fully  established  their  mental  equilibrium.  Two  rea- 
sons can  be  giyen — the  overcrowded  condition  of  the  hospi- 
tal and  the  urgent  appeals  for  the  admission  of  new  cases.  I 


225 


do  not  believe  the  policy  of  discharging  convalescent  patients 
at  an  early  period  is  advisable  or  economical.  Although 
considered  fully  restored,  the  brain  and  nervous  system  of 
these  patients  are  generally  in  a sensitive  condition,  like  that 
of  the  lungs  or  other  organs  after  acute  disease.  A few 
weeks  (sometimes  a few  days)  longer  residence  at  the  hospi- 
tal would  place  them  beyond  the  danger  of  relapse.  An 
early  return  to  the  home  circle  and  silent  influences  which 
may  have  had  much  to  do  in  causing  insanity  in  the  first 
place  endangers  their  mental  health.  But  it  is  difficult,  often 
impossible,  to  make  relatives  understand  this  fact.  They 
come  to  visit  their  afflicted  friends  and  find  them  quiet,  ra- 
tional, and  perhaps  anxious  to  return  home.  The  patient 
acknowledges  that  he  has  been  “ out  of  his  mind,”  but  is  now 
“ all  right,”  and  fears  that  the  noise  of  the  wards  and  daily 
association  with  other  patients  will  have  an  unfavorable  in- 
fluence. The  argument  seems  plausible  and  appeals  strongly 
to  the  judgment  of  anxious  friends,  who  readily  consent  to 
the  wishes  of  the  patient,  even  when  reminded  of  the  fact 
that  it  was  certain  influences  at  home  which  excited  the  dis- 
ease and  that  the  patient  had  recovered  his  mental  health  in 
the  very  wards  and  amid  the  surroundings  which  he  now 
fears  may  make  him  insane.  One  of  the  responsible  duties 
devolving  on  the  medical  officers  is  in  connection  with  the 
discharge  of  this  class  of  convalescents  and  to  know  just 
how  to  act,  and  when.  The  natural  impulse  would  tend  us  to 
coincide  with  the  wishes  of  the  patient  and  friends,  even  after 
sad  experience  has  taught  us  the  necessity  of  caution.  When 
a patient  remains  in  hospital  several  months  after  recovery 
or  until  the  habit  of  health  is  fully  established,  he  rarely  re- 
lapses into  insanity.  It  is,  therefore,  a source  of  regret  to 
us  when,  having  reluctantly  sanctioned  the  removal  of  a pa- 
tient, he  soon  returns  in  a worse  condition  than  when  first 
admitted.  Referring  again  to  table  No.  1,  you  observe  that 
we  report  thirty-four  (34)  patients  as  discharged  “ station- 
ary ” — meaning  so  many  persons  who  were  admitted  in 
a state  of  chronic  melancholia,  dementia,  or  mania,  and  hav- 


15 


226 


ing  occupied  our  beds  for  a longer  or  shorter  period,  are  re- 
turned to  their  homes  or  to  the  almshouses  to  make  room  for 
more  urgent  cases. 

Since  the  hospital  was  opened  in  1868,  we  have  discharged 
(see  table  No.  2)  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  (286)  patients  of 
this  class,  or  in  other  words,  of  two  evils  we  have  chosen  the 
lesser,  and  have  given  preference  to  acute  cases.  I need 
hardly  ask  you  to  approve  this  course,  because  it  has  in  every 
such  instance  been  sanctioned  on  the  ground  of  necessity. 
No  stronger  proof  can  be  adduced  to  show  the  pressing  need 
of  greater  accommodations  for  the  insane  in  Connecticut 
than  the  facts  here  given.  This  hospital  is  dangerously 
overcrowded,  convalescing  patients  are  sent  home  before  their 
recovery  is  established,  chronic  cases  are  returned  to  the 
almshouses  to  make  room  for  urgent  cases,  about  seventy  ap- 
plicants are  waiting  to  be  admitted,  and,  according  to  the  re- 
port of  the  special  commission  last  year,  there  are  about  four 
hundred  (400)  insane  persons  waiting  in  the  various  town  re- 
ceptacles, who  need,  and  ought  to  have,  better  accommoda- 
tions. These  stern  facts  (established  by  unchallenged  evi- 
dence) appeal  directly  to  the  sympathy  and  conscience  of 
every  citizen.  They  are  so  important  and  irresistible  that  I 
am  led  to  ask  you  again,  Can  we  in  any  way  do  more  than 
we  are  already  doing  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  times  ? To 
crowd  the  present  overcrowded  buildings  would  hardly  be 
justifiable,  or  reasonable.  It  would  be  simply  a “ make-shift  ” 
attempt  to  benefit  a few  at  the  expense  of  many,  and  would 
endanger  the  already  limited  chances  for  curative  treatment. 
The  question  naturally  arises,  Would  it  be  advisable  to  en- 
large the  present  hospital  buildings  by  the  addition  of  wings? 
You  are  aware  that  I have  often  expressed  a decided  opinion 
in  opposition  to  this  proposition,  and  nothing  has  occurred  to 
change  my  views.  All  experience  shows  that  the  best  results 
are  obtained  in  smaller  hospitals,  and  there  is  a growing  con- 
viction among  the  most  experienced  alienists,  that  a mistake 
has  been  made  of  late  years  in  allowing  our  hospitals  to  be- 
come expensive  in  construction,  large  receptacles,  unwieldly 


227 


in  the  number  of  inmates,  and  hence  often  unsatisfactory  in 
professional  management.  No  one  can  reasonably  expect  a 
physician,  no  matter  how  eminent  or  capable,  to  do  as  well  in 
the  detail  care  of  five  hundred  (500)  patients,  as  he  would 
with  half  that  number.  And  the  same  principle  applies  — 
although  not  with  the  same  force  — to  the  other  departments. 
The  friends  of  patients  have  reason  to  expect  that  the  medi- 
cal superintendent  will  know  all  about  the  peculiarities  of 
each  case,  no  matter  how  many  are  under  his  treatment. 
He  may  have  capable  assistants  who  can  attend  to  the  detail 
treatment  of  individual  cases,  and  keep  the  record  books ; 
but  it  is  his  duty  to  know  the  facts  and  be  ready  to  converse 
intelligibly  about  them.  Another  serious  objection  to  large 
hospitals  may  be  found  in  the  largely  increased  number  of 
employes  necessary  to  their  care,  and  the  increased  liability 
to  their  irregularities  which  may  naturally  occur.  The  only 
argument  worthy  of  notice  thus  far  advanced  by  the  advocates 
of  large  institutions  is,  that  the  patients  can  be  supported  at 
less  expense  per  capita.  In  these  times  of  financial  distress 
and  uncertainty  this  argument  will  receive  careful  attention. 
Without  attempting  to  discuss  it,  I would  simply  report  that 
in  practice  we  find  a decided  advantage,  pecuniarily,  in  hav- 
ing a large  number  of  patients;  but  the  disadvantages  of  les- 
sened personal  attention  to  individual  cases,  liability  to  acci- 
dents and  irregularities,  and  the  greatly  increased  responsibil- 
ity resting  upon  the  resident  officers,  outweigh  the  pecuniary 
gain.  If  a hospital  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  (250)  patients 
could  be  maintained  at  the  same  cost  per  capita  as  one  with 
accommodations  for  four  hundred  and  fifty  (450),  no  one 
would  be  found  to  advocate  the  latter. 

It  has  been  suggested  by  the  friends  of  the  insane  poor  that 
additional  buildings  could  be  erected  on  the  hospital  farm. 
That  these  buildings  should  be  simple  inexpensive  structures, 
yet  permanent  and  adapted  to  the  purpose  of  affording  suita- 
ble accommodations  to  the  quiet  chronic  cases  who  might  be 
transferred  from  time  to  time  from  the  present  hospital; 
or,  in  other  words,  that  the  present  building  would  be- 


228 


come  the  receiving  hospital,  affording  accommodations  for 
about  four  hundred  (400)  acute  or  recent  cases.  When 
the  medical  officers  become  satisfied  that  any  given  case 
had  reached  a chronic  condition,  he  or  she  could  be  sent 
to  the  other  building,  there  to  be  maintained  as  long  as  the 
friends  or  officials  of  the  town  thought  desirable.  In  care- 
fully examining  the  present  hospital  population,  I find  about 
one-half  of  the  whole  number  who  could  be  thus  provided  for 
at  less  expense  as  to  the  cost  of  buildings. 

Admitting  the  pressing  need  of  greatly  increased  accom- 
modation for  the  insane  of  Connecticut,  this  would  seem  to 
be  a peculiarly  favorable  time  to  carry  out  the  project. 
Building  materials  of  all  descriptions  are  from  thirty  (30)  to 
fifty  (50)  per  cent,  lower  than  when  this  hospital  was  erected. 
Skilled  labor  can  be  obtained  at  low  cost  and  in  sufficient 
quantity  to  insure  its  speedy  completion.  From  a careful 
survey  of  the  whole  ground,  including  information  from 
architects  and  builders,  it  is  reasonable  to  conclude  that 
another  hospital  for  four  hundred  (400)  patients  could  be 
erected  and  furnished  at  a cost  not  to  exceed  $200,000,  or 
at  the  rate  of  $500  per  capita.  I have  already  said  that  the 
only  reason  urged  for  the  establishment  of  institutions  for  the 
chronic  insane  is,  that  they  will  provide  for  these  people  at 
less  expense.  Admitting  the  force  of  this  argument  so  far 
as  it  relates  to  cost  of  buildings,  it  is  but  fair  to  ask  the  advo- 
cates of  this  system  how  they  are  going  to  cheapen  their  care? 
Is  it  not  by  providing  inferior  officers  and  employes,  fewer 
attendants,  and  less  care?  Would  it  not  be  necessary  to 
lessen  the  quality  and  quantity  of  food  ? In  fact,  to  substi- 
tute something  inferior  in  all  respects.  Would  you  crowd 
them  into  smaller  space,  lessen  ventilation,  cheapen  in 
warmth  and  clothing  ? The  advocates  of  this  system  intend 
that  the  patients  should  work  for  their  own  advantage,  and 
this  labor  will  be  the  element  peculiar  to  this  system. 

This  would  seem  to  imply  that  labor  has  not  already  been 
an  element  of  treatment  in  our  hospital.  You  are  aware 
that  we  have  for  years  employed  about  forty  per  cent,  of  the 


229 


patients  committed  to  our  care.  In  my  humble  opinion  we 
should  be  perpetrating  a wrong  by  extracting  from  these  de- 
bilitated sick  people  the  strength  that  will  contribute  more 
largely  to  their  support.  In  experience  we  find  that  about 
one-third  of  all  chronic  insane  have  barely  the  circulation  to 
enable  them  to  sustain  a miserable  physical  life,  and  others, 
with  all  the  food  of  the  best  quality  you  can  give  them,  have 
scarcely  sufficient  vitality  to  walk  about  the  wards  and  yards 
for  exercise.  And  yet  these  are  the  people,  we  are  told,  who 
should  support  themselves  largely  by  their  own  labor.  Con- 
siderations of  humanity  as  well  as  of  experience  seem  to  in- 
dicate that  we  should  endeavor  to  obtain  work  from  each  pa- 
tient only  so  far  as  it  would  be  for  the  benefit  of  his  health 
and  strength,  looking  only  to  his  own  good.  It  is  only  of  late 
that  these  questions  have  been  seriously  brought  forward. 
In  former  periods  of  the  world’s  history,  this  disease  was  con- 
sidered a manifestation  of  evil  spirits  — a possession  of  the 
devil  — hence  the  unhappy  victims  were  consigned  to  rigid 
confinement  in  loathsome  cells.  The  general  public  did  not 
trouble  itself  about  their  care  and  treatment  so  long  as  they 
were  safely  imprisoned  ; and  even  the  friends  of  these  un- 
happy mortals  endeavored  to  blot  out  the  remembrance  of 
their  existence.  Near  the  close  of  the  last  century  that  noble 
Christian  physician  Pinel  had  the  moral  courage  to  strike  off 
the  chains  from  fifty-three  of  the  most  violent  patients  con- 
fined in  the  Bicetre  at  Paris,  and  restored  them  to  light  and 
liberty.  From  that  period  to  the  present  there  has  been  con- 
tinual progress  in  the  methods  of  providing  for  the  insane ; 
until  now  the  old  Bedlam,  with  its  narrow  halls  and  darkened 
cells,  has  given  place  to  our  cheerful,  commodious,  and  well- 
ventilated  modern  hospital.  The  present  century  has  wit- 
nessed the  abolition  of  nearly  all  kinds  of  mechanical 
restraint,  and  the  substitution  of  moral  means,  persuasion, 
gentleness,  and  kindness.  It  was  formerly  the  custom  to 
name  these  places  especially  provided  for  the  insane  Bedlams, 
madhouses,  or  asylums;  but  with  the  advance  in  medical 
science,  a practical  knowledge  of  insanity  as  a disease  of  the 


230 


brain,  with  its  prospects  of  cure,  has  led  to  a change  of  no- 
menclature, hence  the  name  hospital,  a place  where  ex- 
hausted mental  powers  are  recruited,  and  their  operations 
gradually  readjusted  to  new  interests  and  occupations.  Here 
are  combined  the  restraining  influences  of  new  surroundings, 
new  acquaintances  and  modes  of  life,  together  with  all  of  the 
best  appliances  for  professional  treatment. 

Notwithstanding  the  feeling  of  distrust  that  still  pervades 
society,  there  is  a constantly  growing  desire  on  the  part  of 
the  friends  and  public  officials  to  avail  themselves  of  the  hos- 
pital accommodations  already  provided.  The  policy  of  pro- 
viding for  the  insane  away  from  their  homes  may  be  consid- 
ered as  adopted.  The  real  question  is,  Shall  we  continue 
the  present  hospital  system  and  extend  and  increase  the 
existing  institutions,  or  engraft  upon  it  some  special  plan 
for  taking  care  of  the  chronic  insane  ? It  seems  to  me 
that  combining  in  the  same  establishment  the  characteristics 
of  hospital  and  asylum,  profits  both  classes  of  patients. 
To  some  extent  a separation  of.  the  recent  from  the  chronic 
cases  is  desirable,  hence  a further  classification  is  one  of 
the  ends  to  be  aimed  at.  Institutions  expressly  for  incura- 
bles have  been  tested  faithfully  in  Germany  under  the 
most  able  medical  men,  yet  the  system  has  not  been  ex- 
tended. The  first  provision  for  the  insane  in  any  community 
should  be  made  for  the  recent  cases.  They  present  the 
greatest  probability  of  recovery  under  hospital  treatment, 
and  have  the  strongest  claims  upon  our  sympathies.  Ex- 
perience everywhere  shows  that  it  is  more  economical  to 
place  acute  cases  in  hospitals  at  an  early  period,  thus  hasten- 
ing recovery,  lessening  expense,  and  preventing  them  from 
becoming  a public  charge  for  life.  In  former  reports  I have 
referred  to  the  benefits  to  be  derived  from  outdoor  employ- 
ment of  those  who  are  physically  able,  and  systematic  exer- 
cise of  those  who  are  not  able  to  work. 

Two  years  ago,  we  organized  the  male  patients  and  attend- 
ants into  companies  for  daily  military  exercises.  This  has 
been  continued  and  extended,  so  as  to  include  a morning 


231 


dress  parade  on  pleasant  days,  at  which  one  of  the  medical 
officers  receives  a daily  report  from  each  ward  or  company, 
showing  the  number  of  men  at  work  on  the  farm  or  garden, 
number  at  parade,  number  and  names  of  those  excused  from 
exercise,  remaining  in  ward,  etc.,  etc. 

It  would  frequently  be  found  that  out  of  a population  of 
240  males,  only  half  a dozen  remained  in  the  house  on 
account  of  acute  disease  or  feebleness.  After  parade  the 
companies  separate  for  longer  or  shorter  walks  about  the 
country.  It  is  a noticeable  fact  that  with  this  freedom  from 
restraint,  and  almost  unlimited  opportunites  for  escape,  no 
patient  eloped. 

One  of  the  marked  results  of  having  our  male  patients  out 
of  doors  so  much  of  the  time  has  been  improvement  in 
health,  a quiet  house  at  night,  and  no  necessity  for  the  use 
of  sedative  or  hypnotic  doses  at  bedtime.  An  examination 
of  the  watchman’s  book  reveals  the  fact  that  during  the  past 
six  months  only  two  doses  have  been  administered  during 
the  night.  Another  result  of  these  influences,  working 
silently  among  our  people,  has  been  an  almost  total  abolition 
of  mechanical  restraint.  Rarely  has  it  been  necessary  to  use 
the  camisole,  or  wristlets,  or  muff. 

The  following  table  shows  the  total  amount,  in  days  and 
hours,  and  the  different  forms  of  restraint  used  during  the 
year. 


232 


RESTRAINT  TABLE.-  MALES.— DEC.  1,  1876  — DEC.  1,  1877. 


Total  number  males  treated  during  year,  ....  324 

Total  number  males  restrained  during  year,  ...  24 

Total  duration  of  restraint  for  24  males,  . . . 125.60  days 

Proportion  of  the  year  during  which  restraint  was  used,  . .34 


Form  of  Restraint. 

Days. 

Hours. 

No.  of 
Patients. 

Causes. 

Seclusion  (not  in- 
cluding sleeping 
hours), 

35 

12*' 

15 

Quarrelsomeness,  Strik- 
ing, Extreme  Mischievous- 
ness, Determination  to  Dis- 
robe, Threats  and  Boister- 
ous Conduct,  Maniacal 
Excitement,  Attempt  at 
Elopement,  Repeated  At- 
tempts at  Homicide. 

Muff  (leather), 

41 

9 

5 

Destruction  of  Clothing 
and  Furniture,  Pounding 
on  Doors,  Masturbation, 
Violence,  a Paroxysm  of 
Recurrent  Mania. 

Anklets  (leather), 

12 

1 

Kicking. 

Wristlets  (leather), 

11 

16 

6 

Striking  Patients,  Mis- 
chievousness, General  Mis- 
conduct. 

Wristlets  and  Ank- 

lets, 

4 

1 

Extreme  Violence. 

Tied  to  Seat, 

4 

21 

3 

Mischievousness,  Upset- 
ting Everything  in  the 
Ward. 

Tied  in  Bed, 

4 

16 

5 

Destruction  of  Every- 
thing within  reach  and 
ExtremeRestlessness,  W ild 
Excitement. 

Confined  in  Cov- 

ered Bed, 

12 

1 

Upsetting  Bedding. 

Camisole, 

22* 

1 

Destruction  of  Clothing. 

121* 

98* 

38* 

* The  total  in  column  third  (38)  does  not  correspond  to  the  total  number 
of  males  restrained  (24),  because  the  same  patients  were  at  different  times 
subjected  to  different  forms  of  restraint. 

“Day  ” is  used  as  meaning  24  hours. 

Day  as  distinguished  from  night  — 12  hours. 


233 


Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  only  twenty-four  of  324  patients 
were  subjected  to  any  form  of  seclusion  or  restraint,  and  the 
whole  time  amounted  to  only  125-^  days,  or  to  express 
it  in  another  way  would  be  to  state  that  only  one  man  was 
restrained,  and  he  only  one-third  of  the  time.  I regret  my 
inability  to  make  an  exact  report  respecting  the  female 
patients.  But  it  is  gratifying  to  be  able  to  note  a marked 
improvement  in  this  side  of  the  house.  Owing  to  the  fact 
that  insane  women  from  habit  and  inclination  take  less  out- 
door exercise,  and  are  by  nature  more  “ nervous  ” than  men, 
I doubt  our  ability  to  reduce  the  amount  of  restraint  to  the 
small  minimum  shown  in  the  above  table,  but  it  is  our  pur- 
pose to  accomplish  all  that  is  possible. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  commend  all  attendants  of  both 
sexes,  who  have  cheerfully  seconded  the  efforts  of  the  officers 
in  this  direction. 

Since  the  date  of  your  last  report,  an  ice-house  with  ca- 
pacity for  400  tons,  and  room  for  storing  butter  and  fresh 
meat,  has  been  erected  adjacent  to  the  other  rear  buildings. 
The  farm  barn  has  been  reslated  and  repainted.  A shed 
with  stalls  for  five  carriages,  to  shelter  horses  and  drivers 
which  are  waiting,  from  the  inclement  weather,  is  about 
completed.  A fine  concrete  walk  has  been  laid  to  the  lodge. 
Other  useful  repairs  and  improvements  are  being  constantly 
made,  and  it  is  our  desire  to  keep  the  buildings  in  a state 
of  complete  preservation.  During  the  winter  it  will  become 
necessary  to  do  considerable  internal  patching  and  painting 
of  walls  and  woodwork,  but  this  will  not  require  any  addi- 
tional force  of  mechanics. 

FINANCIAL  CONDITION. 

Referring  to  the  financial  statement  herewith  appended, 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  revenue  received  was  $119,540.04, 
which,  added  to  balance  on  hand  at  the  date  of  the  last 
report,  made  a total  of  $120,500.72.  The  expenses  for  the 
year  have  been  $116,021.38,  leaving  a balance  of  $4,479.34. 
I would  respectfully  recommend  that  you  reduce  the  weekly 


234 


charge  for  board  and  treatment  to  four  dollars.  With  the 
same  judicious  economy  that  has  always  been  followed  and  a 
continuance  of  the  present  prices,  the  amount  to  be  derived 
from  this  revenue  will  enable  us  to  pay  all  expenses. 

ENTERTAINMENTS. 

I have  often  alluded  in  former  reports  to  the  advantages 
to  patients  and  employes  of  regular  amusements,  and  would 
only  add  that  we  have  been  able  to  provide  some  form  of  en- 
tertainment on  three  evenings  each  week  for  about  eight 
months  of  the  year.  These  consist  of  lectures,  concerts, 
stereopticon  exhibitions,  dances,  and  tableaux,  with  an  occa- 
sional dramatic  performance.  For  the  most  part  we  are 
dependent  upon  home  talent,  but  always  gladly  accept  assist- 
ance from  friends  or  the  public.  In  this  connection  I would 
gratefully  acknowledge  our  indebtedness  to  the  following- 
named  persons  who  have  assisted  in  this  good  work  : 

A reading  by  II.  H.  Johnson. 

A concert  by  Messrs.  Pearne,  Franklin,  Parsons,  and  Bacon. 

A concert  by  the  Misses  Spencer,  Miss  Wilcox,  Mr.  Ingra- 
ham, and  Mr.  Guilford. 

The  Faust  Club  of  Middletown  for  one  concert  and  orches- 
tral accompaniment  for  our  own  theatricals. 

A sleight-of-hand  performance  by  Mr.  Ingraham  and  Mr. 
Jack. 

A variety  entertainment  by  “ the  Guy  family.” 

Tableaux,  etc.,  by  “the  Earnest  Workers”  of  the  South 
Congregational  Church. 

Donations  were  received  as  follows  : 

Four  chairs  for  piazza  from  Hon.  H.  S.  Hayden. 

Two  boxes  of  books  and  pamphlets  from  E.  B.  Monroe, 
Southport. 

Large  package  of  illustrated  papers  from  the  librarian 
of  Yale  College. 

A valuable  book  for  nurses  from  Miss  Dix. 

Eight  copies  of  Agricultural  Reports  from  Mr.  T.  S.  Gold, 
secretary. 


235 


One  violoncello  from  Mr.  George  W.  Holton,  Vermont. 
One  horse  chestnut  tree  and  plants  from  Miss  Crofut, 
Middletown. 

Newspapers  were  gratuitously  received  as  follows  : 


The  Courant,  Daily, 

The  Post,  Daily,  . 

The  Register,  Daily, 

The  Winsted  Herald,  Weekly,  . 

The  Daily  News,  Daily,  . 

The  Palladium,  Weekly, 

The  Times,  Weekly, 

The  Living  Issue,  Weekly, 

The  Bridgeport  Standard,  Weekly, 
The  Tolland  County  Journal,  Weekly, 
The  Sheltering  Arms,  Monthly,  . 

The  Connecticut  News,  Weekly, 

The  Constitution,  Weekly, 

The  Sentinel  and  Witness,  Weekly, 
Call  and  Citizen,  Semi-weekly,  . 


Hartford. 

Hartford 

New  Haven. 

Winsted. 

Hartford. 

New  Haven. 

Hartford 

New  York. 

Bridgeport. 

Rockville. 

New  York. 

Salisbury. 

Middletown. 

Middletown. 

Meriden 


Since  the  date  of  my  last  annual  report  some  changes 
have  occurred  in  the  staff  of  resident  officers.  Owing  to  im- 
paired health,  early  in  the  year,  Dr.  Winthrop  B.  Hallock 
tendered  the  resignation  of  his  office  as  first  assistant  physi- 
cian and  Mrs.  Hallock  that  of  matron  — positions  which  they 
had  successfully  filled  since  March,  1868,  to  take  effect  on 
the  first  of  last  July.  Dr.  Calvin  S.  May  and  Mrs.  Margaret 
Dutton  were  respectively  promoted  to  fill  the  vacancies.  Dr. 
James  Olmstead  of  New  Haven  was  appointed  second,  and 
Dr.  William  E.  Fisher,  third  assistant  physician.  Miss 
H.  E.  Holmes  received  the  appointment  of  housekeeper. 
The  other  positions  are  filled  by  the  same  officers  who  have 
become  so  eminently  well  qualified  by  their  services  in. 
former  years.  Owing  to  the  absence  of  your  superintendent 
during  nine  months  of  the  year,  the  labors  of  all  of  the  resi- 
dent officers  were  somewhat  increased. 


Grateful  acknowledgments  are  tendered  to  each  and  all 
for  efficient  services  cheerfully  rendered ; and  especially  to 
Dr.  May,  who  officiated  as  acting  superintendent  to  your 
entire  satisfaction. 


236 


Constant  employment  among  the  insane  is  peculiarly 
arduous,  and  in  some  respects  unpleasant.  There  is  no  sep- 
aration between  living  and  working.  The  burden  cannot  be 
laid  aside  with  the  setting  of  the  sun,  but  continues  on 
through  the  night ; hence  those  who  from  natural  tempera- 
ment, habit,  or  experience,  can  happily  perform  the  duties, 
should  be  retained  without  too  special  regard  to  the  cost  of 
services.  It  would  seem  invidious  to  name  individually, 
when  so  many  are  engaged,  those  who  by  long  and  faithful 
service  have  made  themselves  almost  invaluable  to  the  hos- 
pital, and  yet  I desire  to  officially  acknowledge  their  worth, 
and  my  personal  appreciation  of  their  work. 

In  conclusion,  gentlemen,  I desire  to  express  my  grateful 
sense  of  obligation  for  the  encouragement  you  have  always 
afforded  me  amid  the  labors  and  anxieties  of  hospital  life. 
With  an  earnest  desire  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  insti- 
tution, and  with  firm  resolution  to  insure  its  success  and  use- 
fulness in  the  future  by  executing,  to  the  extent  of  my 
ability,  your  philanthropic  designs,  this  report  is  respectfully 
submitted. 

ABRAM  MARVIN  SHEW,  M.D., 

Superintendent . 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut : 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  have  the  honor  to  present  to  your  honorable  body 
their  thirteenth  annual  report. 

That  there  is  so  little  outside  of  the  annexed  reports  of  the 
superintendent  and  treasurer  to  report  upon  specially  and  to 
call  your  attention  to,  is  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  salutary 
and  beneficial  working  of  the  institution  generally,  and  of  the 
experience  gained  during  past  years  in  the  management  of 
its  several  departments. 


At  the  beginning  of  this  year  the  number  of  patients  was,  . 468 

The  number  of  patients  since  received, 161 

' The  number  of  patients  discharged,  from  whatever  cause,  . 148 

The  number  of  deaths,  ........  40 

The  number  of  all  patients  now  in  hospital,  . . . . ' 481 

Average  of  number  since  the  year  began, 474.17 


We  are  happy  to  state  that  the  alterations  in  the  old  car- 
penter’s shop  are  nearly  completed.  When  the  change  is 
made  there  will  be  rooms  for  about  twenty-five  (25)  patients 
of  the  most  unruly  classes,  including  convicts. 

While  feeling  a deep  sense  of  gratitude  that  the  State  of 
Connecticut  has  already  done  so  much  for  the  insane,  and 
that  during  a period  of  twelve  years  so  many  of  its  citizens 
have  (in  their  affliction),  received  the  benefit  of  its  benevo- 
lent and  Christian  liberality,  your  board,  in  special  charge  of 
this  one  agency  of  the  State  for  good,  cannot  but  keenly  re- 
gret that  the  capacity  of  this  hospital  for  accommodation  is 
quite  inadequate  to  the  increasing  calls  for  aid  of  those  who 
need  the  protecting  care  of  the  State,  pending  illness  from 
insanity. 


238 

This  board,  as  well  as  the  several  governors  of  the  State 
who  have  in  succession  presided  over  it,  and  have  advocated 
so  cordially  in  their  messages  its  recommendation  for  in- 
creased provision,  have  been  urgent  in  the  past  years,  and 
are  no  less  so  now,  in  asking  your  honorable  body  to  weigh 
well  its  responsibility  for  the  care  of  the  insane,  and  for  re- 
lieving the  necessity  for  more  rooms  for  them  somewhere. 


The  number  now  on  the  book  of  application  waiting  for  admission  is, 

females, 86 

The  number  distributed  from  the  State  in  the  hospitals  of  Kew 

England  by  the  order  of  the  governor,  is,  .86 


The  new  hospital  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  at  Dan- 
vers, which  is  under  the  care  of  Dr.  May,  lately  a physician 
with  us,  has  received  eleven  (11)  from  Connecticut.  This 
new  building  is  the  fifth  hospital  for  insane  erected  by  the 
State  of  Massachusetts,  which  has  also  municipal  and  private 
institutions  for  the  same  class.  If  Connecticut  is  to  do  as 
much  in  this  line  as  Massachusetts,  in  proportion  of  popula- 
tion and  wealth,  she  should  have  at  least  three  hospitals. 

The  report  of  the  farm  will  doubtless  be  of  interest  to 
many  in  the  legislature.  The  required  work  on  the  farm  is 
to  a considerable  degree  done  by  chronic  and  recovering 
patients. 

We  respectfully  call  the  attention  of  the  legislature  to  the 
effect  of  the  working  of  a part  of  a late  law  of  the  State,  re- 
quiring towns  to  pay  for  board  of  their  pauper  insane  at  the 
hospital,  two  dollars  and  a half  ($2.50),  irrespective  of 
changes  in  the  prices  of  board  which  may  be  made  at  the 
institution. 

The  unequal  division  of  the  weekly  rate  of  board,  $2.50  to 
the  town  and  only  $1.50  to  the  State,  will  inevitably  tempt 
the  officers  of  some  of  the  towns  to  again  avail  themselves  of 
the  wretched  poor-house,  instead  of  sending  their  insane 
where  care  and  cure  are  possible. 

Just  so  far  as  this  is  done  will  the  State  of  Connecticut  be 
exhibited  as  stepping  back  from  the  front  line  of  benevolence, 
which  for  some  years  she  has  been  nobly  abreast  of.  Just 


239 


so  far  will  it  be  a retrogression  to  the  position  she  unfor- 
tunately occupied  for  so  long  before  her  Christian  philanthropy 
established,  at  a large  expense,  a well-appointed  and  suitable 
hospital  for  the  insane.  Her  design  in  so  doing  will  so  far 
be  frustrated.  Complaints  of  misery  and  mischief,  unheard 
since  1866,  will  be  of  necessity  and  rightfully  renewed. 

Your  board,  therefore,  respectfully  request  such  a modifica- 
tion of  the  objectionable  part  of  the  late  law  as  will  equalize 
the  charges  of  board  of  the  patients  between  the  State  and 
the  towns. 

Owing  to  the  reduction  generally  of  provisions  and  house- 
hold material,  and  to  the  fact  that  the  main  expenditures  in 
repairs  and  improvements  have  been  made,  it  is  proposed  to 
make  a weekly  reduction  of  twenty-five  (25)  cents  from  the 
price  of  board,  making  it,  from  the  first  of  December,  1878, 
$3.75  per  week  instead  of  $4.00. 

The  board  lias  been  well  pleased  during  the  year  with  the 
intelligent  and  interesting  services  of  the  various  officers  and 
employes  of  the  institution.  During  the  absence  in  the  sum- 
mer vacation  of  the  superintendent,  who  was  married  at  the 
beginning  of  it,  the  principal  administration  devolved  on  Dr. 
Olmstead,  who  acquitted  himself  in  its  duties  with  courteous 
dignity  and  professional  credit  in  the  responsible  position. 

Dr.  Shew  was  in  Europe  for  a few  weeks,  during  which  he 
visited  fourteen  hospitals  for  insane,  as  will  appear  in  his 
report. 

It  was  a part  of  the  original  plan  of  the  center  building  to 
have  a hall  for  amusements  in  the  upper  story.  Lectures, 
concerts,  readings,  display  of  magic  lanterns,  etc.,  are  all,  in 
course,  resorted  to,  to  make  agreeable  changes  in  the  monot- 
onous lives  of  those  whom  mental  diseases  compel  to  be  con- 
fined within  our  walls.  Only  those  who  are  really  familiar 
with  the  routine,  and  with  the  privations  incidental  to  what 
may  be  likened  to  a “ garrison”  or  “ barrack  ” life,  can  ap- 
preciate the  enthusiastic  interest  which  is  shown  by  both 
patients  and  employes  in  preparing  for  these  simple  entertain- 
ments. The  refreshing  effect  of  these  amusements  indoors  is 


240 


enjoyed  by  the  great  family  of  both  sexes,  and  corresponds 
to  the  outdoor  exercises  which  most  of  the  men  enjoy. 

The  terms  of  office  of  the  trustees  from  New  Haven  and 
Middlesex  counties  expire  with  the  year,  and  their  re-election 
is  desired. 

Dr.  Samuel  Lynes  of  Norwalk,  for  some  years  a member 
of  the  board,  died  July  29th,  much  regretted  by  all  who  were 
associated  with  him  in  his  official  position  here,  as  by  the 
public  generally. 

In  the  uneventful  but  prosperous  work  done  in  your  insti- 
tution, the  board  are  thankful  that  the  blessing  of  Heaven 
has  rested  upon  it. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

RICHARD  D.  HUBBARD, 

RICHARD  S.  FELLOWES, 

HENRY  WOODWARD, 

ROBBINS  BATTELL, 

EZRA  P.  BENNETT,  M.D., 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 

LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 

SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 

RICHMOND  M.  BULLOCK, 

E.  B.  NYE,  M.D., 

BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 

JULIUS  HOTCHKISS, 


Hartford . 

New  Haven . 

Middletown . 

Norfolk. 

Danbury. 

Windsor. 

Tolland. 

Colchester. 

Putnam. 

Middletown. 

u 


REPORT  OF  SUPERIRTERDERT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane , — 

Gentlemen  : 

The  close  of  another  official  year  brings  with  it  the  pleasing 
duty  of  preparing  for  you  a history  of  the  institution  during 
the  twelve  months  just  expired. 

In  reviewing  the  events  of  this  period  we  find  abundant 
cause  for  gratitude  to  an  overruling  Providence  for  the 
absence  of  all  epidemic  diseases,  for  immunity  from  accidents, 
for  additions  to  our  means  of  administering  to  the  comfort 
and  welfare  of  those  committed  to  our  care,  and  for  other 
blessings  which  have  constantly  surrounded  us. 

At  the  close  of  last  year  there  were  remaining  in  the 
hospital  four  hundred  and  sixty-eight  (468)  patients  — an 
equal  number  of  each  sex.  There  have  since  been  admitted 
one  hundred  and  one  (101)  males  and  sixty  (60)  females. 
These  numbers  represent  so  many  different  individuals.  It 
has  always  been  our  custom  to  report  a person  but  once  in  our 
tables  within  a fiscal  year,  and  all  of  the  statistics  herewith 
appended  are  made  upon  a basis  of  persons,  and  not  of  patients 
or  admissions. 

Of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  (161)  persons  received, 
ninety-five  (95)  came  for  the  first  time  to  this  or  any  hospital ; 
fifty  (50)  for  the  second  ; thirteen  (13)  for  the  third  ; two 
(2)  for  the  fourth,  and  one  (1)  for  the  sixth  time. 

The  three  oldest  persons  received  were  aged  respectively 
seventy-eight  (78)  and  seventy-six  (76)  years.  The  three 
youngest  persons  admitted  were  aged  eleven  (11),  sixteen  (16), 
and  sixteen  (16)  years.  Total  number  present  during  the 
year,  six  hundred  and  twenty-nine  (629). 

There  were  discharged  as  “ recovered”  twenty  (20)  males 
and  twelve  (12)  females,  thirty-two  (32)  persons;  nineteen 
16 


242 


(19)  of  whom  were  in  the  hospital  for  the  first  time,  ten  (10) 
for  the  second  time,  two  (2)  for  the  third  time,  and  one  (1) 
for  the  fourth  time. 

Forty  (40)  persons  — twenty-six  (26)  males  and  fourteen 
(14)  females  — were  discharged  much  improved.  This  class 
includes  many  who  had  recovered,  or  were  so  nearly  restored 
that  they  were  sent  home  to  make  room  for  more  urgent 
cases.  They  should  properly  be  classed  with  those  of  the 
first  group,  who  are  reported  as  having  recovered;  but  the 
liability  to  relapse  is  so  much  greater  when  convalescent 
patients  are  taken  home  at  an  early  period  that  we  have 
always  classed  such  with  the  doubtful  ones,  even  at  the 
expense  of  a creditably  sounding  report. 

The  number  of  deaths  was  forty  (40),  nearly  all  the  result 
of  chronic  disease.  Pulmonary  consumption  proved  fatal  in 
nine  (9)  cases,  apoplexy  in  four  (4),  and  that  most  unconquer- 
able of  all  forms  of  disease,  general  paresis,  in  five  (5).  Two 
of  those  who  died  were  eighty  (80)  years  of  age,  one  ninety 
(90),  and  one  ninety-three  (98);  the  average  of  all  was  fifty- 
three  and  one-fourth  (53.25)  years. 

The  following  table  gives  in  a condensed  form  a mortuary 
history  of  the  hospital  since  its  opening : 

Deaths  and  their  Ratios,  from  May  1,  1868,  to  Nov.  30,  1878. 


Official  year. 

Whole  number  of 
patients. 

Daily  average 
No.  of  patients. 

Men. 

DEATHS. 

Women. 

Total. 

Per  cent,  on  whole 
No.  patients. 

Per  cent,  on  daily 
average  number 
of  patients. 

1868-69, 

268 

85  47 

14 

1 

15 

5 59 

17.57 

1869-70, 

343 

225.17 

18 

3 

21 

6.12 

9 32 

1870-71, 

307 

237. 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72, 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4 55 

6.18 

1872-73, 

336 

264.53 

12 

9 

21 

6.25 

7.86 

1873-74, 

524 

239.51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75, 

605 

425.80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76, 

616 

452  64 

26 

7 

33 

5.35 

7.31 

1876,  8 mos. 

548 

9 

6 

15 

2 73 

3.28 

Dec  1,  ’76, 

456.97 

Nov.  30,  ’77, 

619 

463.88 

19 

12 

31 

5.01 

6.69 

1877-78, 

629 

474.17 

27 

13 

40 

6.36 

8.43 

243 


At  the  beginning  of  this  year  the  hospital  was  overcowded 
and  uncomfortable.  None  of  the  officers  considered  it  judi- 
cious to  increase  the  number  of  beds  or  curtail  the  conveniences 
of  those  already  here.  But  1 am  reluctantly  obliged  to  report 
that  we  close  the  year  with  four  hundred  and  eighty-one  (481) 
patients.  This  gradual  and  almost  imperceptible  increase 
in  numbers  resulted  from  the  natural  desire  which  we  all 
feel  to  accommodate  the  urgent  cases  which  are  brought  to 
the  hospital  without  warning  or  previous  application. 

Your  officers  perceive  the  distress  of  sorrowing  friends, 
who  have  no  means  of  providing  for  an  acutely  maniacal  case, 
and  hastily  prepare  a bed  in  one  of  the  halls,  day-rooms,  or 
dormitories.  After  such  a bed  is  once  occupied  it  is  almost 
an  impossibility  to  remove  it.  Only  those  who  have  had 
hospital  experience  can  appreciate  this  gradual  growth  in 
numbers. 

The  hospital  was  originally  intended  and  fitted  for  the 
comfortable  accommodation  of  but  four  hundred  and  fifty 
(450)  patients,  two-thirds  of  whom  it  was  supposed  would  be 
chronic  cases,  and  for  whom  dormitories  were  provided  in 
lieu  of  single  rooms.  A large  number  of  quiet,  incurable 
patients,  whose  condition  offered  no  prospect  of  benefit  from 
longer  treatment  in  a hospital,  were  removed  to  make  room 
for  more  urgent  cases;  and  at  no  time  has  the  hospital 
failed  to  open  its  doors  to  this  class  of  the  afflicted  poor 
when  such  exchanges  could  be  effected. 

A natural  consequence  of  this  policy  has  been  a constantly 
increasing  proportion  of  what  may  be  called  the  turbulent 
population  of  the  hospital,  requiring  more  vigilance,  patience, 
and  labor  on  the  part  of  those  having  the  care  and  supervision. 
Notwithstanding  this  liberal  policy,  which  has  permitted  your 
hospital  to  be  overcrowded,  I am  reluctantly  obliged  to  report  * 
that  the  list  of  applications  for  the  admission  of  pauper  and  in- 
digent female  patients  has  steadily  increased,  until  eighty-six 
(86)  names  are  regularly  entered  on  our  application  book  on 
the  last  day  of  November.  In  the  natural  course  of  events 
an  average  of  eight  (8)  removals  of  female  patients,  by  recov- 


244 


ery  or  death,  will  occur  every  month ; hence  those  who  apply 
for  admission  now  can  probably  be  received  next  July  or 
August.  This  deplorable  lack  of  accommodations  for  females 
is  not  new  or  recent.  It  has  existed  ever  since  the  hospital 
was  opened.  Repeated  demands  for  more  room  have  been 
made  by  your  honorable  board,  by  the  chief  executive  of 
the  State,  and  by  commissioners  appointed  expressly  to 
ascertain  the  needs  and  necessities  of  the  State,  and  yet  years 
have  passed  without  positive  relief. 

The  facts  already  cited  seem  to  indicate  that  public  officials 
are  ready  to  send  patients  to  the  hospital  whenever  their 
attention  is  called  to  proper  cases.  Is  it  not  strange  that  the 
family  friends  — those  who  are  related  by  blood  and  kinship 
— should  often  stand  in  the  way  and  prevent  the  early 
removal  of  an  insane  relative  until  weeks  and  months  have 
passed,  and  the  patient  has  become  hopelessly  deranged,  or 
too  unmanageable  to  be  longer  retained  at  home  ? 

It  is  but  a few  weeks  since  a man  was  received  from  a 
neighboring  town  who  had  been  insane  several  years,  and 
kept  at  his  brother’s  house,  confined  by  a chain  fastened  to  a 
staple  in  the  floor  and  an  iron  collar  about  his  neck.  Since 
admission  to  the  hospital  he  has  been  quiet  and  harmless, 
and  able  to  perform  some  labor  about  the  grounds. 

In  attempting  to  provide  for  as  many  patients  as  possible, 
I have,  with  your  approval,  made  arrangements  with  two 
families  residing  near  the  hospital  to  receive,  as  boaiders,  a 
few  mild  cases  from  time  to  time.  In  this  way  one  male  and 
four  female  patients  have  been  provided  for.  While  receiv- 
ing family  care  they  are  still  under  the  supervision  of  the 
medical  officers  of  the  hospital,  and  attend  entertainments 
and  divine  service  regularly  in  the  hospital  chapel.  To  what 
extent  this  policy  can  be  pursued  is  still  undetermined. 
Our  experience  would  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  safe 
and  advisable  only  in  mild  cases  of  long  standing,  where  no 
benefit  can  be  expected  from  the  medical  or  moral  treatment 
usually  pursued  while  at  the  hospital. 

Desiring  to  relieve  our  overcrowded  wards,  you  decided  to 


245 


remodel  the  old  carpenter  shop  so  as  to  adapt  it  to  hospital 
purposes.  At  a special  meeting  of  the  board  in  May,  a com- 
mittee was  appointed  and  ‘instructed  to  procure  plans  and 
carry  forward  this  work.  The  original  building  was  a sub- 
stantial stone  structure,  twenty-seven  (27)  feet  wide,  fifty-two 
(52)  feet  long,  and  three  stories  in  height,  with  an  addition 
on  the  eastern  side  which  could  be  easily  finished  as  closets 
and  bath-rooms.  In  this  building  brick  walls  have  been 
carried  up  throughout,  so  as  to  form  twenty-seven  (27)  single 
rooms,  nine  (9)  on  each  floor,  with  clothes-rooms,  closets, 
and  halls.  An  addition  of  sixteen  (16)  feet  made  at  one 
end  will  furnish  a dining-room  on  the  first  floor  and  two  day- 
rooms  above.  The  building  is  heated  by  steam  from  iron 
radiators  in  the  basement,  a hot-air  flue  leading  directly  to 
each  room.  Every  room  lias  also  a ventilating  flue,  conduct- 
ing directly  up  and  out  above  the  roof.  When  these  changes 
shall  have  been  completed,  good  accommodations  will  be 
afforded  for  twenty-four  (24)  turbulent,  destructive,  or  filthy 
patients,  each  one  having  a warm,  strong,  well-ventilated, 
single  room.  The  building  is  situated  one  hundred  and 
seventy  (170)  feet  on  the  rear  of  the  hospital  wards,  but 
only  one  hundred  and  fifteen  (115)  feet  from  the  large 
kitchen. 

It  is  the  purpose  to  transfer  to  this  detached  building  the 
criminal  insane,  together  with  such  noisy  patients  as  may  dis- 
turb others,  and  thus  relieve  the  whole  house. 

A new  brick  building,  fifty  (50)  feet  in  length,  twenty  (20) 
feet  in  width,  and  two  stories  in  height,  was  erected  during 
the  summer,  to  be  used  as  a carpenter’s  shop,  in  place  of  the 
remodeled  building.  It  is  situated  near  the  boiler-house,  and 
at  a convenient  distance  from  the  main  buildings.  It  is  fur- 
nished with  buzz  and  gig  saws,  turning  lathes,  mortising 
machine,  and  a small  engine  for  power.  The  second  story  is 
used  as  a store-room  and  drying  closet.  The  lower  floor  is 
devoted  to  mechanical  purposes.  Here  the  carpenter  work 
and  repairing  of  furniture  for  the  whole  institution  is  econom- 
ically executed.  The  entire  cost,  including  engine  and 
machinery,  was  $2,500. 


246 


One  of  the  most  important  improvements  made  during  the 
year  was  the  construction  of  a new  dock,  to  replace  the  one 
donated  to  the  hospital  twelve  (12)  years  ago  by  the  town 
of  Middletown,  and  which  had  become  almost  worthless  by 
long  usage  and  the  action  of  spring  freshets.  To  avoid,  like 
disastrous  action  in  future,  it  was  decided  to  fill  the  entire 
space  with  refuse  stone  from  the  Portland  quarries.  The 
new  dock  has  a river  frontage  of  one  hundred  (100)  feet  and 
cost  $900.  All  of  the  coal,  stone,  brick,  and  other  building 
materials  is  landed  at  this  dock,  at  a distance  of  one-half 
mile  from  the  hospital. 

In  the  matter  of  general  improvements,  the  past  year  has 
been  a busy  one.  Among  those  worthy  of  note  I would  men- 
tion extensive  repairs  at  the  old  North  Cottage,  including  a 
new  floor  in  the  living  rooms,  the  removal  of  a partition  to 
enlarge  the  capacity  of  the  south  dormitory,  relaying  of  the 
cellar  drain-pipe,  building  a permanent  stone  stairway  and 
entrance  to  the  cellar,  and  painting  the  cottage  on  the  out- 
side. 

In  September,  your  committee  on  “ Amusement  Hall” 
decided  unanimously  to  push  the  work  forward,  and  it  is  at 
this  date  so  nearly  completed  that  we  can  already  appreciate 
the  advantages  it  will  afford  us  in  our  course  of  winter  enter- 
tainments. Up  to  the  present  time  we  have  reluctantly  used 
the  chapel  for  such  purposes.  Hereafter  it  can  be  sacredly 
devoted  to  religious  services.  The  new  hall  is  situated  in  the 
attic  of  the  center  building.  It  is  seventy-three  (T8)  feet  in 
length,  thirty-one  (31)  feet  in  width,  and  fifteen  feet,  six 
(15'  6")  inches  in  height,  well  heated  and  ventilated,  with 
seating  capacity  for  four  hundred  (400)  persons.  The  stage 
is  twenty  (20)  feet  in  width,  and  thirty  (30)  feet  in  depth, 
with  drop  curtains  and  side  wings  painted  from  simple  but 
pleasing  designs. 

The  usual  force  of  mechanics  has  been  employed  in  keep- 
ing the  hospital  in  thorough  repair.  In  a population  of  four 
hundred  and  eighty  (480)  sane  persons  the  ordinary  “ wear 
and  tear  ” would  be  no  inconsiderable  item  of  expense. 


247 


Those  who  are  familiar  witli  the  propensities  of  the  insane 
will  comprehend  how  much  larger  the  item  of  repairs  be- 
comes when  providing  for  a hospital  population. 

During  the  year  the  walls  and  ceilings  throughout  seven 
(7)  wards  were  covered  with  three  coats  of  best  oil  paint,  and 
all  the  wood-work  varnished.  Some  simple  bright  lines  and 
stencil  designs  were  placed  on  the  ceilings,  adding  much  to 
the  general  effect,  with  only  slight  additional  expense.  In 
all  of  these  improvements  considerable  assistance  was  ren- 
dered by  convalescent  patients. 

Early  in  the  season  our  worthy  supervisor  designed  a rustic 
summer  house,  which  was  subsequently  erected  by  attend- 
ants and  patients.  This  structure,  one  hundred  and  forty 
(140)  feet  in  length  and  fourteen  (14)  feet  in  width,  is  divided 
into  ten  (10)  subdivisions,  with  seats  in  each  for  twenty  (20) 
persons.  Climbing  vines  were  cultivated  at  the  ends  and 
sides.  At  a short  distance  was  placed  a flag-pole  sixty-five 
(65)  feet  in  height,  and  around  it  a rustic  band  stand  covered 
by  canvass.  A strong  permanent  swing  and  exercising  bars 
were  also  erected,  and  a platform  for  dancing.  Here  many 
an  hour  was  pleasantly  passed  daily,  while  listening  to  the 
music  of  the  band,  or  resting  after  the  simple  military  evolu- 
tions of  the  morning. 

In  response  to  personal  solicitation,  a few  friends  contrib- 
uted a sum  sufficient  to  purchase  instruments  and  music  for 
the  hospital  band.  Under  the  leadership  of  Col.  Thayer  the 
musicians,  who  are  regularly  employed  attendants,  have 
steadily  improved,  until  considerable  proficiency  has  been 
attained.  Good  music  has  been  furnished  to  lead  the  daily 
exercises  and  games,  and  an  outdoor  concert  on  two  even- 
ings of  each  week  during  the  summer.  I am  convinced  that 
so  large  an  element  of  music,  amounting  to  at  least  two  hours 
daily,  in  connection  with  the  regularity  and  discipline  of  the 
outdoor  military  evolutions,  has  proved  not  only  pleasant, 
but  decidedly  profitable  to  patients  as  well  as  employes. 
Under  these  various  influences  many  feeble-minded  and  par- 
tially demented  patients  have  been  awakened  to  new  life  and 


248 


energy,  while  others  arc  prevented  from  sinking  into  hopeless 
imbecility. 

All  of  this  class  have  been  kept  out  of  doors  at  least  five 
hours  daily  — not  in  close  airing  courts,  but  on  the  lawn  and 
about  the  rustic  house,  or  in  long  walks  about  the  country. 

On  every  pleasant  afternoon  more  than  one  hundred  (100) 
persons  from  all  parts  of  the  hospital  would  assemble  on 
the  front  lawn  to  enjoy  a game  of  foot-ball,  while  the  band 
discoursed  lively  music.  These  simple  statements  respecting 
the  daily  life  at  a hospital  are  given  to  illustrate  how  much 
more  humane  is  the  custodial  care  of  the  insane  at  a hospi- 
tal than  elsewhere. 

I believe  I am  correct  in  saying  that  the  chief  aim  and 
study  of  medical  superintendents  during  the  past  quarter  of 
a century  has  been  to  reduce  to  the  minimum  the  amount  of 
restraint  required  in  asylums,  and  to  substitute  labor,  exer- 
cise, and  amusement  in  its  stead.  It  is  absurd  to  assert  that 
all  restraint  is  unnecessary  and  must  be  abolished.  If  it 
were  a fact,  where  would  be  the  necessity  for  building  hos- 
pitals ? Should  not  the  patients  be  at  home  and  at  liberty  ? 

An  experience  of  fifteen  (15)  years  in  the  care  of  more 
than  three  thousand  (3,000)  insane  persons,  together  with 
considerable  observation  in  this  and  foreign  countries,  and  a 
careful  study  of  the  literature  relating  to  the  insane,  con- 
vinces me  that  one  of  the  most  efficient  elements  in  the 
treatment  and  restoration  of  insane  persons  may  be  found  in 
the  regularity  of  hospital  life,  and  the  moral  restraint  therein 
exercised.  Nearly  all  deranged  persons  lack  will  force  to 
balance,  correct,  and  control  perverted  mental  action. 
Unless  their  abnormal  thoughts  are  directed  and  corrected, 
morbid  habits  of  thought  will  become  fixed  and  permanent. 
No  one  doubts  the  efficacy  of  properly  directing  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  mental  faculties  in  healthy  child- 
hood ; of  exercising  suitable  control  over  wayward  youth  ; 
and  but  few  will  question  the  wisdom  of  similar  supervision 
over  those  who,  from  disease,  are  unable  to  reason  correctly 
and  act  properly.  Admitting,  then,  that  removal  from  home 


249 


influences  and  the  substitution  of  properly  directed  control 
at  a hospital  is  advantageous  and  necessary  in  a majority  of 
cases  (not  all,)  let  us  for  a moment  inquire  how  far  this 
supervision  can  be  confined  to  purely  moral  means.  In  other 
words,  is  it  ever  necessary  to  resort  to  mechanical  restraint 
in  the  treatment  of  the  insane  ? 

This  is  one  of  those  questions  which  cannot  be  answered 
by  a simple  affirmative  or  negative.  A few  years  ago  (not 
now)  the  English  alienist  would  unhesitatingly  have  an- 
swered, mechanical  methods  of  control  are  unnecessary.  At 
the  same  date  the  American  alienist  conscientiously  believed 
that  some  forms  of  mechanical  protection  were  absolutely  re- 
quired in  hospital  practice. 

Paradoxical  as  it  may  seem,  both  of  these  positions  were 
untenable.  Here,  as  in  other  debatable  questions,  the  ex- 
tremes were  not  correct.  Experience  has  shown,  on  the  one 
hand,  that  asylums  can  be  conducted  without  mechanical 
appliances;  and,  on  the  other,  that  there  are  some  insane 
patients  who  are  more  humanely  restrained,  who  make  quicker 
and  better  recoveries,  at  less  expense  and  trouble,  when  con- 
trolled by  mild  mechanical  appliances,  than  when  subjected 
to  the  seclusion  of  padded  rooms  or  personal  holding  by  at- 
tendants, under  the  so-called  u non-restraint  ” system  intro- 
duced by  Hill  or  Connolly  into  the  English  asylums.  The 
result  has  been  a modification  of  views  on  both  sides,  and 
the  thoughtful,  conscientious  alienist  of  to-day  exercises  a 
more  healthy  supervision  over  his  patient  by  following 
neither  the  one  extreme  nor  the  other,  but  a happy  mean. 
It  is  a fact  easily  substantiated  by  statistics  that  during  the 
past  ten  (10)  years  American  superintendents  have  steadily 
lessened  the  amount  of  mechanical  restraint  in  hospital  use, 
until  now  ninety  (90)  of  every  one  hundred  (100)  patients 
sent  to  hospitals  return  to  their  homes  restored,  or  remain 
at  the  institution  in  a condition  of  chronic  insanity,  without 
having  been  subjected  to  any  form  of  mechanical  restraint. 
It  is  only  used  in  extreme  cases  of  acute  disease,  where  re- 
pose in  bed  is  considered  indispensable,  or  for  protection  in 


250 


well  pronounced  homicidal  or  suicidal  patients.  Some 
American  alienists  conduct  their  institutions  without  even 
making  use  of  any  appliance  other  than  careful  watching 
and  medicinal  agencies.  Dr.  H.  P.  Stearns,  in  his  report  of 
the  Hartford  Retreat  for  the  year  1877,  on  page  27  uses  the  fol- 
lowing language : “ They  [waistcoats,  wristlets,  camisoles, man- 
acles, muffs,  etc.]  are  eminently  unscientific,  and  should  be  dis- 
pensed with  as  far  as  possible.  It  has  been  my  aim  to  care- 
fully and  earnestly  study  each  case  coming  under  my  obser- 
vation with  this  in  view,  and  I am  happy  to  be  able  to  report 
that  we  have  succeeded  in  passing  the  year  without  the  use 
of  any  of  these  means  of  mechanical  restraint.” 

In  my  recent  brief  visit  to  European  institutions  I saw  in 
use  the  same  mechanical  appliances  that  are  found  in  Amer- 
ican hospitals,  viz .,  camisole  waists,  leather  wristbands,  and 
“ protection  beds  ” ; and  in  one  asylum  the  shower-bath  — 
a form  of  “ mechanical  medication”  which  I have  not  found 
in  any  American  asylum  — was  in  daily  use,  with  good  re- 
sults, according  to  the  testimony  of  the  assistant  physician. 
With  one  exception,  the  medical  officers  in  charge  of  British 
asylums  conversed  with  me  freely  respecting  the  moderate 
use  of  mechanical  protection  in  preference  to  personal 
seclusion  or  manual  restraint  by  attendants.  The  impres- 
sion gained  by  these  interviews  and  personal  inspection  of 
institutions  confirmed  the  statement  already  made,  viz.,  that 
during  the  past  few  years  a strong  and  general  reaction  in 
favor  of  the  moderate  use  of  mechanical  protection  in  the 
treatment  of  the  insane  had  taken  place.  This  is  conclus- 
ively shown  in  the  published  statements  of  leading  foreign 
alienists.  Thus  Dr.  Blandford,  in  his  excellent  manual  for 
students,  says  : “At  the  suggestion  of  the  Commissioners  in 
Lunacy,  I have  employed  mechanical  restraint.”  A leading 
article  in  the  Medical  Times , on  “The  Insane  and  their 
Management,”  referring  to  acute  maniacs,  insane  epileptics, 
and  general  paralytics,  declares  “ restraint  in  some  form  or 
other  is  necessary.”  Among  other  well-known  names  of 
those  who  approve  of  the  use,  in  certain  exceptional  cases, 


251 


of  some  simple  form  of  mechanical  restraint,  may  be  men- 
tioned Dr.  W.  A.  F.  Browne,  the  late  Dr.  Forbes  Winslow, 
Dr.  Murray  Lindsay,  and  Dr.  Ashe  of  Dublin. 

In  an  article  on  “ The  Theory  and  Practice  of  Non-Re- 
straint in  the  Treatment  of  the  Insane,”  published  in  the 
j Edinburgh  Medical  Journal , April  and  June,  1878,  Dr.  W. 
Lander  Lindsay,  superintendent  of  the  Murray  Royal  Insti- 
tution, at  Perth,  says  : “ Among  the  general  results  of  my 
own  observation,  correspondence,  and  reading  are  these : 
The  use  of  mechanical  restraint  is  advocated  by  at  least 
ninety  (90)  per  cent,  of  physicians  engaged  in  lunacy  prac- 
tice throughout  the  world.  Mechanical  restraint  forms  an 
occasional  feature  of  treatment  in  those  asylums  which  have 
the  noblest  history  and  the  highest  reputation.  In  other 
words,  it  constitutes  an  essential  feature  in  the  most 
modern,  most  enlightened,  most  humane  treatment  of  the 
insane.” 

I have  asked  your  indulgence  in  making  the  foregoing 
remarks  respecting  restraint,  because  I believe  the  public 
have  been  misled  by  some  recent  American  writers  and 
teachers,  who  have  apparently  endeavored  to  compliment 
the  foreign,  especially  the  English  asylums,  at  the  expense 
of  our  own  institutions.  After  many  years’  experience  in 
the  one,  and  no  inconsiderable  freedom  in  visiting  the  other, 
I would  remark : 

1st.  That  the  foreign  institutions  are  more  substantially 
constructed  than  our  own ; or,  in  other  words,  that  the 
buildings  cost  more.  This  is  seen  in  the  stone  floors,  and 
fire-proof  stairways,  and  thick  walls,  and  turreted  roofs. 

2d.  The  foreign  asylums  are  not  so  well  furnished  as  the 
American,  and  there  is  less  of  the  home-like,  comfortable 
appearance  which  many  of  our  institutions  have. 

3d.  Less  attention  is  paid  to  heating  and  ventilation. 
Many  of  the  English  asylums  have  simply  old-fashioned  fire- 
places, protected  by  iron  cages  ; and  one  superintendent  told 
me  frankly  that  he  knew  nothing  about  ventilation  or  its 
principles  — “ that  belonged  to  the  engineer.” 


252 


4th.  The  same  forms  of  mechanical  restraint  are  in  use 
in  both  continents.  The  only  difference  seems  to  be  that  in 
England  they  41  abolish  the  name  but  retain  the  thing — re- 
straint— while  here  we  retain  the  name,  but  virtually  abol- 
ish the  thing.”  In  confirmation  of  this  statement,  I would 
simply  mention  the  fact  that  at  Han  well,  near  London  — the 
scene  of  Connolly’s  labors  — I saw  more  in  the  way  of 
“ bolts  and  bars,”  64  coercion  and  confinement,”  in  one  day, 
than  can  be  found  at  this  institution  in  any  ten  days.  And 
the  babel  of  noise  and  confusion  in  one  of  the  male  wards 
exceeded  anything  in  my  previous  experience.  From  the 
moment  I had  passed  the  well-guarded  lodge,  by  permission 
of  the  uniformed  gate-keeper,  through  the  locked  front  door, 
had  waited  twenty  minutes  in  the  large,  uncarpeted,  and 
sparsely  furnished  visitors’  room,  until  a uniformed  turnkey 
was  ready  to  accompany  me  through  the  wards,  halls, 
kitchen,  and  store-rooms,  an  uncomfortable  feeling  of  restraint 
and  utter  helplessness  took  possession  of  me,  and  remained 
with  me  until  I was  once  more  outside  the  high  walls.  It 
was  the  same  sort  of  feeling  that  one  experiences  in  visit- 
ing a penal  institution.  Yet  this  was  Hanwell,  the  scene  of 
Connolly’s  life-work  — an  institution  which  has  been  held  up 
as  a model  to  be  copied,  and  about  which  so  much  has  been 
written. 

Perhaps  I have  said  enough  to  indicate  that  I am  an  ad- 
vocate of  the  moderate  use  of  mechanical  protection  in  the 
treatment  of  the  insane,  or,  in  other  words,  to  employ  or 
apply  what  I consider  the  64  best  thing  for  a given  patient 
under  given  circumstances ,”  without  reference  to  the  creeds 
of  other  people.  Each  case  is  studied  individually.  It  would 
be  unwise  to  restrain  nineteen  (19)  of  every  twenty  (20) 
patients,  because  they  do  not  require  it.  It  would  be  equally 
unwise  not  to  restrain  the  twentieth,  who  is  destructive,  dan- 
gerous, and  turbulent.  Safety  and  moral  discipline  require 
it  no  less  than  the  general  good  of  the  large  majority  who 
are  quiet  and  orderly. 

This  properly  brings  me  to  speak  of  the  results  attained 


253 


in  this  institution.  By  our  system  of  daily  reports  we  are 
able  to  record  the  exact  number  of  hours  or  days  and  the 
form  of  restraint  to  which  any  patient  is  subjected,  and  the 
reason  for  it.  From  these  tabulated  reports  it  appears  that 
only  thirty-two  (32)  out  of  three  hundred  and  thirty-five 
(335)  males  were  subjected  to  any  form  of  seclusion  or  re- 
straint, and  the  whole  time  amounted  to  only  five  hundred 
and  ninety-six  and  one-fourth  (59b J)  days;  or,  to  express  it 
in  another  way,  would  be  to  state  that  one  man  was  restrained 
all  the  year,  and  another  seven  (7)  months  and  twenty-one 
(21)  days.  This  is  the  sum  total  of  restraint  among  men, 
with  a daily  average  present  of  236.11. 

In  my  last  annual  report  I stated  that  insane  women,  from 
habit  and  inclination,  take  less  outdoor  exercise,  are  by 
nature  more  u nervous,”  and  consequently  require  more 
attention  and  restraint  than  men.  Among  the  chronic 
insane  there  seems  to  be  also  a greater  propensity  to  destroy 
clothing  and  to  expose  the  person.  Hence,  our  tables  show 
that  more  individuals  of  this  sex  were  restrained  or  in  seclu- 
sion ; and  the  whole  time  amounted  to  eighteen  hundred  and 
eighty-six  (1,886)  days.  Using  the  same  form  of  statement 
as  above,  it  appears  that  five  women  were  secluded  or  in  re- 
straint all  the  year,  and  one  other  for  two  months  and  one 
day,  with  a daily  average  of  238.06. 

Among  the  most  common  causes  for  its  application,  I 
would  mention  extreme  mischievousness,  determination  to 
disrobe,  repeated  attempts  at  homicide,  repeated  attempts  at 
suicide,  maniacal  excitement,  masturbation,  and  destruction 
of  clothing.  One  male  patient  was  slowly  but  surely  wast- 
ing his  enfeebled  frame  by  persistently  standing.  Here  we 
found  a covered  bed,  or,  as  it  has  been  unjustly  called,  “ the 
Utica  Crib,”  of  not  only  practical  service  but  a real  necessity. 
In  this  covered  bed  the  patient  could  be  comfortably  kept  in 
a horizontal  position  on  a soft  mattress,  entirely  free  from 
other  restraint. 

In  former  reports  I have  referred  to  the  amount  of  labor 
performed  by  patients,  and  its  beneficial  influence  in  promot- 


254 


ing  primarily  the  health  and  vigor  of  the  body,  and  second- 
arily that  of  the  mind.  In  performing  the  daily  household 
labor  in  kitchen,  laundry,  and  bakery,  a number  of  women 
and  some  men  find  regular  employment.  A still  larger 
number  of  men  are  engaged  in  farm  and  garden  work.  Our 
daily  reports  show  that  fifty-five  (55)  per  cent,  of  the  men 


and  forty  (40)  per  cent,  of  the  women  were 

regularly  occu- 

pied  during  the 

greater  part  of  each  day. 

The  following 

table  shows  the 

exact  per  cent,  of  each  sex 

during 'the  past 

six  months  : 

LABOR  TABLE. 

Females.  Males. 

June. 

42 

.56 

J uly, 

43 

.57 

August, 

38 

.58 

September, 

37 

.54 

October,  . 

36 

.55 

November, 

35 

.52 

In  the  twelfth  annual  report  I gave  an  account  of  some 
forms  of  military  exercises,  in  which  nearly  all  of  our  male 
patients  who  were  not  at  work  engaged  daily  for  one  or  two 
hours.  This  system  has  been  perfected  and  extended,  so 
that  during  any  pleasant  forenoon  not  more  than  half  a 
dozen  male  patients  could  be  found  in  the  building,  and  these 
the  helpless  and  sick.  After  the  morning  evolutions  these 
companies  would  walk  about  the  town  and  country  for  miles, 
and  it  is  gratifying  to  report  that  no  one  eloped  while  enjoy- 
ing this  freedom,  and  there  were  only  three  or  four  attempts. 
I am  pleased  to  know  that  this  experiment  of  larger  liberty 
for  the  insane  meets  your  hearty  concurrence  and  approval. 

EXERCISES  AND  ENTERTAINMENTS. 

It  has  been  already  mentioned  that  nearly  all  of  the  inmates 
of  this  hospital  are  kept  out  of  doors  several  hours  daily  dur- 
ing the  pleasant  months  of  spring,  summer,  and  autumn,  and 
that  a band  concert  is  enjoyed  by  all  on  two  evenings  of  each 
week.  Experience  and  observation  show  that  the  quietude 
and  good  order  of  the  household  is  promoted  by  these  vari- 


255 


ous  methods  of  occupying  the  insane.  Their  general  effect 
tends  to  revive  self-respect,  recall  and  awaken  enfeebled  in- 
telligence, and  correct  eccentricities.  As  additional  aids 
during  the  long  winter  evening,  a programme  of  exercises 
has  been  more  successfully  carried  out  than  heretofore. 
Lectures,  concerts,  stereopticon  exhibitions,  and  dances 
occur  regularly,  so  that  three  evenings  of  every  week  are 
agreeably  filled  up.  A brief  synopsis  will  indicate  the  nature 
and  variety  of  these  entertainments  better  than  a lengthy 
description  : 

Two  lectures  on  Africa,  Rev.  C.  L.  Loomis,  Middletown,  Conn. 

One  lecture  on  Geology,  E.  J.  Hulbert,  Middletown,  Conn. 

One  lecture  on  Sandwich  Islands,  Dr.  Shew. 

Three  lectures  on  The  Talmud,  Rev.  Dr.  Coit,  Middletown,  Conn. 

The  Destruction  of  Jerusalem,  Rev.  Dr.  Coit,  Middletown,  Conn. 

The  Jews  in  Spain,  Rev.  Dr.  Coit,  Middletown,  Conn. 

One  lecture  on  A Night  in  London  One  Hundred  Years  Ago,  Prof.  C. 
T.  Winchester,  Middletown,  Conn. 

One  lecture  on  German  Life,  Prof.  W.  O.  Atwater. 

One  lecture  on  London,  Dr.  Shew. 

One  lecture  on  Windermere  and  Edinburgh,  Dr.  Stearns,  Hartford, 
Conn. 

One  lecture  with  Oxyhydrogen  Microscope,  Prof.  A.  A.  Starr,  New 
York  city. 

One  lecture  on  Drinking  Water  and  its  Impurities,  Dr.'  Chamberlain, 
Hartford,  Conn. 

Two  select  readings,  by  Walter  Church,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

One  select  reading  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bradley,  Boston,  Mass. 

One  select  reading  by  Alfred  M.  Lamar,  New  York  city. 

One  select  reading  by  Prof.  Hibbard,  New  Britain,  Conn. 

One  select  reading  by  Mr.  Merrill,  Middletown,  Conn. 

Twenty  assemblies,  music  and  dancing. 

One  masquerade  party,  dancing. 

One  exhibition  of  danciug  by  Mr.  Spencer’s  class. 

Five  stereopticon  exhibitions,  Drs.  Olmsteadand  Fisher. 

One  concert,  Hospital  Minstrel  Troupe. 

One  concert,  Mr.  A.  A.  Cole  and  friends. 

One  concert,  officers  and  attendants. 

Three  evenings,  tableaux  and  farces. 

One  evening,  two  farces,  performed  by  the  Misses  Gilman,  Ludham, 
and  Hulbert,  and  Messrs.  Warner,  Huske,  Copeland,  and  Snively. 

As  in  former  years,  the  Sabbath  afternoon  services  have 
been  regularly  conducted  by  pastors  of  churches  in  the 


256 


neighborhood,  to  all  of  whom  my  grateful  acknowledgments 
are  tendered. 

On  the  29th  of  last  July  one-half  of  the  inmates  of  this 
institution  enjoyed  a novel  holiday.  Two  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  (229)  patients  — one  hundred  and  sixty-one 
(161)  males  and  sixty-eight  (68)  females — representing  all 
the  wards  in  the  house,  enjoyed  a sail  down  the  river  and 
out  on  the  Sound.  They  were  accompanied  by  a sufficient 
number  of  attendants  and  officers,  were  gone  all  day,  and  on 
returning  not  the  slightest  disorder  was  reported,  and  no, 
greater  accident  than  the  loss  overboard  of  an  old  straw  hat. 

FARM. 

An  examination  of  Mr.  Weatherbee’s  tabulated  report, 
herewith  appended,  shows  a largely  increased  production  of 
farm  and  garden  vegetables  over  that  of  any  previous  year. 
The  amount  of  each  product  is  derived  from  actual  weighing 
or  measurement.  The  sum  total  of  value  does  not  equal 
that  of  some  former  years  when  prices  were  higher.  This 
does  not,  however,  diminish  the  value  to  the  hospital,  as  all 
of  the  products  are  consumed.  The  farm  is  now  well  stocked, 
and  is  being  improved  from  year  to  year  by  sub-soil  drainage 
and  the  use  of  sewage  and  the  removal  of  stones,  old  walls, 
and  brush.  Much  of  this  labor  is  performed  by  convalescent 
and  quiet  chronic  patients,  under  the  direction  of  our  farmer. 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT. 

Referring  to  the  clerk’s  balance  sheet,  herewith  appended, 
you  observe  that  the  regular  receipts  have  enabled  us  to  con- 
duct the  hospital  another  year ; to  make  the  needed  repairs 
and  improvements  without  diminishing  the  diet  tables  or  in- 
creasing the  price  of  board.  The  total  revenue  for  the  year 
amounted  to  $112,665.08,  and  the  expenses  $111,276.69. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that,  notwithstanding  the  extensive  per- 
manent improvements  made  this  year,  and  an  increased 
daily  average  of  eleven  (11)  patients,  the  expenses  have  been 
$4,744.69  less  than  the  preceding  year.  The  price  per  week 


257 


to  all  town  and  indigent  patients  was  four  (4)  dollars,  and 
it  should  be  remembered  that  this  sum  covered  all  expenses, 
including  salaries  and  pay. 

We  have,  at  this  date,  thirty-four  (34)  paying  patients 
who  are  supported  by  friends,  to  whom  the  charge  is  five  (5) 
dollars  per  week. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 


We  are  again  indebted  to  Mr.  T.  S,  Gold,  secretary  of 
State  Board  of  Agriculture,  for  copies  of  valuable  reports 
from  other  States.  Also  to  a number  of  gentlemen  friends 
who  contributed  a fund  for  the  purchase  of  music  and  band 
instruments. 

Newspapers  were  gratuitously  received  as  follows  : 


Tlie  C our  ant,  Daily, 

The  Post,  Daily,  , 

The  Register,  Daily, 

The  Winsted  Herald,  Weekly, 

The  Palladium,  Weekly,  . 

The  Times,  Weekly, 

The  Living*  Issue,  Weekly, 

The  Bridgeport  Standard,  Weekly, 
The  Tolland  County  Journal,  Weekly, 
The  Sheltering  Arms,  Monthly, 

The  Connecticut  News,  Weekly, 

The  Constitution,  Weekly, 

The  Sentinel  and  Witness,  Weekly, 
The  Religious  Herald, 


Hartford 
Hartford 
New  Haven 
Winsted 
New  Haven 
Hartford 
New  York 
Bridgeport 
Rockville 
New  York 
Salisbury 
Middletown 
Middletown 
Hartford 


Since  your  last  annual  meeting  two  changes  have  occurred 
in  the  staff  of  resident  officers.  Dr.  Calvin  S.  May  tendered 
the  resignation  of  his  office  as  first  assistant  physician,  which 
he  had  so  creditably  filled,  to  accept  the  superintendency  of 
the  new  Massachusetts  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Danvers. 

Dr.  James  Olmstead  was  promoted  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
Dr.  William  E.  Fisher  was  also  advanced,  and  Dr.  Charles 
E.  Stanley  received  an  appointment  as  third  assistant. 

The  other  positions  are  filled  by  the  same  officers  who 
have  efficiently  served  the  State  for  several  years.  I am  un- 
der especial  obligations  to  all  for  cordial  co-operation  in  this 
arduous  labor.  This  imperfect  summary  of  the  results  of 
17 


258 


another  year’s  hospital  work,  1 would,  in  conclusion,  submit 
as  my  thirteenth  annual  report.  It  is  now  more  than  twelve 
(12)  years  since  you  invited  me  to  act  as  your  executive 
officer  in  establishing  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  In- 
sane. At  that  date  the  land,  now  inclosed,  graded,  and 
ornamented,  was  simply  pasture  land  ; the  hospital  buildings 
existed  only  on  paper  and  in  the  hearts  of  those  who,  through 
faith,  hope,  and  unity  of  purpose,  believed  that  the  common- 
wealth of  Connecticut  would  no  longer  permit  her  afflicted 
sons  and  daughters  to  languish  in  jails  and  unwholesome 
almshouses.  These  have  been  active,  earnest  years  of  perse- 
vering labor,  during  which  some  of  the  early  helpers  have 
passed  on  to  their  reward.  But  most  of  us  remain  to  see  in 
the  completion  and  organization  of  your  hospital  the  con- 
summation of  early  expectations.  For  the  cordial  support 
you  have  always  afforded  me  in  the  important  trust  commit- 
ted to  my  charge,  I shall  ever  feel  grateful.  Soliciting  the 
continuance  of  your  earnest  help,  and  the  blessing  of  an 
overruling  providence,  I look  forward  with  hope  to  the  duties 
of  another  year. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

A.  M.  SHEW,  M.D., 

Superintendent. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  Nov.  30,  1878. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut : 

In  presenting  to  your  honorable  body  their  fourteenth 
annual  report,  the  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for 
the  Insane  may  happily  congratulate  the  State  on  the  pro- 
pitious results  of  the  year  closing  December  1,  1879,  as  con- 
nected with  this  institution.  It  has  been  a year  of  quiet  and 
busy  action,  satisfactory  in  character  and  good  results.  The 
blessing  of  God  has  rested  on  the  efforts  made  for  the  resto- 
ration and  welfare  of  the  614  persons  who  have  been  in  the 
hospital  as  patients.  Of  this  whole  number  only  19  have 
died  — a death  rate  below  our  average  in  former  years,  and 
much  below  that  of  similar  institutions.  The  result  is  to  be 
in  part  attributed  to  the  faithful  medical  executives,  to  those 
who,  aiding  them,  have  cared  for  the  cleanliness  of  the  pa- 
tients, their  wards  and  rooms,  also  to  the  regular  exercise, 
steadily  improving  diet,  and  the  pure  air  of  a healthy  situa- 
tion, together  with  the  attention  given  to  proper  ventilation 
within  doors.  All  of  us  know  that  often  with  the  best  inten- 
tioned  plans  and  careful  oversight,  our  enterprises  will  turn 
out  untowardly,  but  this  year  has  been  one  of  signal  freedom 
from  such  mishaps,  as  well  as  from  epidemics  and  other  evils. 
One  has  only  to  pass  through  the  wards  to  see  that  a tone  of 
general  healthiness  exists  among  the  patients,  of  whom  there 
have  been  618  in  the  buildings  at  one  time. 

The  price  of  board,  during  the  year,  has  been  18.75.  It  is 
to  be  hoped  that  the  rise  in  provisions  and  materials,  now 
going  on  over  the  whole  country,  will  not  necessitate  an  ad- 
vance upon  this  price.  It  is  our  aim  to  so  administer  the 


260 


affairs  of  the  institution  as  to  make  it  a self-supporting  one, 
believing  that  that  plan  is  in  accord  with  the  wishes  of  the 
legislature. 

Soon  after  the  sending  in  of  our  thirteenth  report  one  of 
our  board,  formerly  lieutenant-governor  of  the  State,  the 
Hon.  Julius  Hotchkiss,  was  called  away  after  a short  and 
painful  illness.  He  was  buried  at  Middletown  on  the  26th 
of  December,  1878  ; the  resolutions  on  our  record  commended 
warmly  his  great  faithfulness  and  eminent  usefulness  in  the 
work  of  your  hospital. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Alsop  of  Middletown  was  chosen  to  the  vacant 
office  of  “ local  trustee.” 

An  additional  reservoir,  about  one-fourth  of  a mile  above 
the  old  one  on  Butler  Creek,  has  been  constructed  during 
the  year.  The  experience  of  a shortness  of  water  supply  in 
1870  (and  threatened  deficiencies  in  other  periods)  made  it 
evident  that  there  was  need  of  more  storage  room  for  water 
for  use  in  times  of  severe  drouth,  and  especially  if  additional 
buildings  were  to  be  erected  by  the  State  on  the  grounds 
adjoining  the  present  buildings.  The  flowage  of  the  new 
reservoir  is  about  three  acres  — the  depth  of  w^ater  at  the  new 
dam  is  about  fifteen  feet  — there  is  now  a head  of  about  160 
feet,  which  is  fully  adequate  to  cover  with  water  the  highest 
parts  of  the  hospital  buildings.  The  work  was  begun  in 
March,  and  finished  in  November,  at  a cost  of  about  $2,000. 
To  have  all  the  advantages  of  this  increased  supply  of  water 
it  is  requisite  to  connect  the  new  reservoir  with  the  old  one, 
and  to  have  10  hydrants,  so  placed  around  and  outside  the 
buildings,  which  are  about  1,000  feet  in  length,  as  to  be  used 
promptly  in  event  of  fire.  There  have  been  in  this  country 
twelve  hospitals  for  insane  destroyed  by  fire  within  the  past 
twelve  or  fourteen  years.  It  is  to  be  remarked  just  here, 
that  in  every  one  of  these,  there  was  what  was  supposed  to 
be  efficient  protection  against  fire,  but  in  every  one  the  pro- 
tection was  prepared  for  the  interior  of  the  building  — none 
of  them  had  exterior  hydrants.  The  expense  of  so  many  feet 
of  heavy  six-inch  iron  pipe,  with  the  needed  hydrants  and 


liose,  is  the  only  objection  to  their  being  immediately  ordered. 
While  it  is  supposed  that  every  precaution  against  lire  within 
the  walls  is  already  taken,  a delay  in  making  the  connection 
proposed  might  cost  the  State  a large  sum  of  money  and  haz- 
ard the  lives  of  the  inmates  of  the  institution. 

During  the  year  there  have  been  completed  and  paid  for, 
without  asking  the  aid  of  the  State,  an  “ amusement  hall  ” 
for  the  patients,  seating  400  persons,  an  u annex,”  with  24 
beds  in  single  rooms  for  the  most  excitable  and  unruly  pa- 
tients, and  a dwelling  for  the  engineer ; also  an  addition  of 
twenty-four  stalls  for  cows  in  the  farm  barn.  There  have 
been  placed  new  slating  and  felting  upon  the  roof  of  the  cen- 
ter building ; concrete  walks  connecting  hospital  and  “ annex 
repairs  have  been  made  to  fences ; cellar  walls  have  been  re- 
laid  under  the  cottages,  etc.,  etc.,  details  of  which  will  be 
found  in  the  superintendent’s  report. 

There  has  been  a larger  number  of  patients  than  during 
any  previous  year.  The  number  at  this  date  is  510. 

For  the  second  time,  a pleasant  variation  from  ordinary 
modes  of  benefiting  the  patients  was  a steamboat  excursion 
to  the  seashore,  on  the  2d  of  August  last.  Three  hundred 
patients,  attendants,  and  officers  embarked  'at  8 a.  m., 
steamed  to  Niantic,  and  returned  by  moonlight  at  10  p.  m. 
The  hospital  band  played  for  them  on  the  river  and  sound. 
There  was  nothing  to  disturb  harmony  during  the  whole 
trip.  It  was  greatly  enjoyed.  We  who  are  free  to  go  or 
come  as  we  choose  may  think  it  a small  matter  to  mention  a 
day’s  steamboat  excursion,  but  a moment’s  reflection  on  the 
condition  of  these  “ mental  invalids  ” will  show  all  that  it 
was  a “ great  thing  ” to  them.  It  was  worth  all  the  cost  of 
the  experiment,  $65,  to  know  that  so  large  a number  of 
insane  people  could  be  gathered  together  on  the  deck  of  a 
vessel  for  fourteen  hours,  and  that  literally  nothing  of  an 
unpleasant  nature  should  occur. 


262 


The  treasurer’s  and  the  superintendent’s  reports  will  show 
the  financial,  statistical,  and  economical  condition  of  the 
hospital. 

We  have  been  called  to  sympathize  deeply  with  our  super- 
intendent in  the  loss  of  his  wife.  Mrs.  Shew’s  funeral  was 
attended  by  the  board  on  the  23d  of  September. 

Seven  cases  (two  of  them  fatal)  of  diphtheria  have  oc- 
curred during  the  year.  Only  one  patient,  and  she  a “ con- 
valescent,” had  the  disease.  She  recovered  of  that  terrible 
disease.  Lest  any  local  cause  should  exist  for  this  evil,  one 
of  the  medical  members  of  the  board  was  appointed  as  a 
committee  to  make  thorough  examination,  with  a competent 
plumber  and  assistants.  He  spent  two  or  three  days  in 
critical  observations  of  the  sewer  connections  of  the  build- 
ings and  surroundings.  We  are  happy  to  say  that  it  was 
the  unanimous  opinion  that  no  source  of  evil  existed  in  our 
institution.  In  two  of  the  seven  cases  the  parties  had  been 
exposed  in  visits  where  the  disease  had  developed  in  a friend 
or  neighborhood.  Its  presence  on  our  healthy  site  is  to  be 
attributed  to  atmospheric  influences,  which  obviously  are  be- 
yond our  power  to  control. 

As  their  duty  to  the  many  unfortunate  sufferers  from  in- 
sanity, and  to  the  interests  of  the  State  seemed  to  require, 
the  trustees  heartily  approved  and  earnestly  commended  the 
report  of  the  special  commission  appointed  by  his  Excellency 
the  Governor,  which  recommended  to  the  legislature  of  last 
year  that  an  appropriation  be  made  and  work  immediately 
begun  on  additional  buildings,  to  accommodate  the  increas- 
ing number  of  patients.  The  need  of  such  buildings  is  now 
greater  than  ever.  Had  the  appropriation  been  made  then, 
much  suffering  might  have  been  evaded  or  alleviated,  and, 
owing  to  the  now  increased  cost  of  materials  and  labor,  from 
twenty  to  forty  thousand  dollars  have  been  saved  to  the 
treasury  of  the  State. 


263 


The  terms  of  service  of  the  members  for  Litchfield  county 
and  for  Fairfield  county  expire  this  year.  We  cordially  re- 
quest their  reappointment  for  a new  term. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

CHARLES  B.  ANDREWS,  Litehjield. 
ROBBINS  BATTELL,  Norfolk. 

EZRA  P.  BENNETT,  M.D.,  Danbury. 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN,  Windsor. 

LUCIUS  S.  FULLER,  Tolland. 

SAMUEL  Gr.  WILLARD,  Colchester. 
RICHMOND  M.  BULLOCK,  Putnam. 
RICHARD  S.  FELLOWES,  New  Haven. . 
HENRY  WOODWARD,  Middletown. 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS,  “ 

JOSEPH  W.  ALSOP,  M.D., 

E.  B.  NYE,  M.D., 


REPOET  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane : 

Gentlemen, — I present  herewith  tabulated  reports  of  hospi- 
tal work  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  November  80,  1879.  You 
have  already  learned,  at  your  monthly  and  quarterly  visita- 
tions, particulars  respecting  the  daily  transactions  of  the 
year.  It  remains  for  me  now  to  generalize  the  results, 
directing  attention  only  to  facts  and  suggestions  of  special 
interest. 

As  a whole,  the  year  has  been  one  of  quiet,  laborious  work, 
affording  satisfactory  evidences  of  professional  and  general 
attention  to  details,  without  which  disorder  and  deterioration 
would  be  manifest.  The  only  remarkable  feature  of  the 
year,  which  I would  especially  emphasize,  was  the  uniform 
good  health  of  the  whole  household,  and  the  unprecedentedly 
small  mortality.  This  appears  all  the  more  remarkable  when 
you  consider  the  classes,  condition,  and  ages  of  those  compris- 
ing our  hospital  population.  It  should  be  remembered  that 
nearly  all  patients  are  brought  to  us  in  a debilitated  condition 
from  physical  disease,  loss  of  sleep,  or  neglect ; many  having 
hereditary  tendencies  to  nervous  disorders,  others  advanced 
in  life,  and  all  mentally  deranged.  To  build  up  the  physical 
system,  properly  classify  mentally,  and  provide  medical 
and  moral  treatment  suited  to  each  individual  case,  and  all 
collectively,  is  a work  of  no  small  magnitude. 

The  year  began  with  481  patients,  241  males  and  240 
females.  There  have  since  been  admitted  1(53,  75  males  and 
88  females,  making  a total  of  644  present  during  the  twelve 
months.  Of  this  number  45  have  recovered,  38  have  been 
discharged  much  improved,  37  mild  cases  were  exchanged 


265 


for  more  excitable  ones,  and  19  have  died  ; leaving  510 
present  at  the  close  of  the  year,  of  whom  246  are  males  and 
264  females. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  your  hospital  has  treated  a larger 
number  of  patients  by  15  than  during  any  previous  twelve 
months,  and  that  the  total  number  of  admissions  since  May 
31,  1868,  when  the  institution  was  opened,  is  1,837.  These 
figures  represent  so  many  different  persons  — that  is,  no 
individual  receives  an  admission  number  more  than  once  in  a 
fiscal  year.  If  discharged  and  readmitted,  he  takes  his  old 
register  number.  This  explanation  seems  necessary,  and  the 
system  it  represents  indicates  exact  truthfulness  in  our 
statistics. 

I report  the  number  of  those  who  have  recovered  this  year 
as  45 ; 37  of  these  were  recoveries  from  a first  attack  ; 2 
from  a second  ; 4 from  a third  ; and  2 from  a fifth  in  former 
years. 

Undoubtedly  many  who  were  classed  as  “ much  improved,” 
have  been  permanently  restored.  In  fact  we  know  this  to  be 
true  of  some  ; but  prefer  to  underestimate  rather  than  over- 
estimate the  total  when  so  many  elements  of  uncertainty 
enter  into  the  calculations.  I have  already  alluded  to  the 
small  number  (niueteen)  of  fatal  cases.  Five  deaths  were 
the  result  of  that  incurable  and  most  serious  of  all  forms  of 
nervous  disease,  general  paralysis.  Four  deaths  were  the 
result  of  natural  decay  in  old  people,  all  of  whom  had  passed 
the  age  of  78.  One  female  died  from  cancer  of  the  breast. 
Many  attempts  at  suicide  by  melancholy  patients  were  made 
during  the  year,  only  one  of  which  was  successful.  One  male 
patient,  a quiet,  harmless  old  man,  who  for  years  had  taken 
his  afternoon  nap  on  the  hay  mow  in  the  farm  barn,  was 
fatally  injured  while  asleep  by  another  quiet  chronic  patient 
who  has  for  a long  time  labored  with  the  farm  hands  and  was 
considered  harmless.  There  was  only  one  death  from  pul- 
monary consumption  and  from  apoplexy.  The  average  age 
of  all  who  died  was  55.68  years. 

Deaths  occurred  in  months  as  follows  : In  December  3,  in 


266 


January  1,  in  February  1,  in  March  2,  in  April  0,  in  May  4, 
in  June  1,  in  July  1,  in  August  1,  in  September  1,  in  October 
1,  and  in  November  8. 

The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  deaths  each  year, 
the  percentage  of  the  whole  number,  and  of  the  average 
number  present : 


Deaths  and  their  Ratios  from  May  1,  1868,  to  Nov.  80,  1879 


OFFICIAL  YEAR. 

Whole  Number  of 
Patients. 

Daily  Average  No.  of 
Patients. 

DEATHS. 

Per  cent,  on  Whole 
No.  of  Patients. 

Per  cent,  on  Daily 
Average  No.  of  Pa- 
tients. 

Men. 

Women. 

Total. 

1868-69,  

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17.57 

1869-70, 

343 

225.17 

18 

3 

21 

6.12 

9.32 

1870-71,  

307 

237. 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72,...  

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-73,  

336 

264.53 

12 

9 

21 

6.25 

7.86 

1873-74, 

524 

239  51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75, 

605 

425.80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76, 

616 

452.64 

26 

7 

33 

5.35 

7.31 

1876,  8 months,. . . . 

548 

456.97 

9 

6 

15 

2.73 

3.28 

Dec.  1,  1876, 

Nov.  30,  1877, 

619 

463.88 

19 

12 

31 

5 01 

6.69 

1877-78, 

629 

474.17 

27 

13 

40 

6.36 

8.43 

1878-79, 

644 

498.34 

9 

10 

19 

2.95 

3.81 

I have  to  report  seven  severe  cases  of  diphtheria  occurring 
at  irregular  dates  during  the  past  eight  months,  two  of  which 
proved  fatal  and  a third  resulted  in  death  from  paralysis  of 
the  heart  after  convalescence  had  been  fully  established  and 
the  patient  up  and  about.  An  interesting  fact  in  the  devel- 
opment of  these  cases  is,  that  strong,  healthy,  sane  persons 
were  attacked,  only  one  case  having  occurred  among  the 
patients,  and  that  one  in  a convalescent  who  was  passing 
the  time  out  of  doors.  All  of  these  cases,  excepting  the 
first  two,  appear  to  have  been  sporadic,  occurring  without 
exposure  to  others,  and  at  long  intervals  of  time  and  in  per 


267 


sons  living  in  different  buildings.  One  of  the  severest  cases 
was  that  of  a vigorous  male  attendant,  who  for  four  years 
had  had  charge  of  one  our  of  cottages,  situated  780  feet  away 
from  the  hospital  and  not  connected  with  the  sewer.  Re- 
membering all  of  these  facts,  and  the  marvelously  healthy 
condition  of  our  patients,  it  is.  illogical  to  suppose  that  the 
• disease  resulted  from  imperfect  sewerage.  On  the  contrary, 
as  these  cases  occurred  among  people  who  were  well  and  out 
of  doors,  and  as  other  sporadic  cases  happened  in  South 
Farms  simultaneously,  it  is  reasonable  to  attribute  the  poison 
to  atmospheric  influences  prevailing  over  a large  district  of 
of  the  town.  The  following  table,  carefully  prepared  from 
the  ward  daily  reports,  shows  that  the  average  number  of 
patients  was  498.34.  The  average  number  persons  sick  in 
bed  was  5.71  — only  a fraction  over  one  in  every  one  hundred 
patients.  No  other  evidence  is  required  to  prove  the  general 
healthfulness  of  this  location  and  the  good  sanitary  condition 
of  the  institution  : 


MALES. 

FEMALES. 

Average  Number 
Taking  Medicine. 

Average  Number 
Sick  in  Bed. 

Average  Number 
Working. 

Average  Number 
of  Patients. 

Average  Number 
Taking  Medicine. 

u 

0) 

& 

5 '-3 

3 a> 

o.S 
5 « 

% OQ 
<! 

Average  Number 
Working. 

Average  Number 
of  Patients. 

December, 

21.19 

1.74 

117.92 

242.25 

25.32 

3.74 

88. 

240.45 

January, 

23.41 

2.03 

113.74 

242.90 

25.45 

3.61 

92.07 

241.48 

February,  

24.85 

1.71 

111.75 

244.28 

33.71 

3.39 

96.58 

241.71 

March, 

23  67 

2.25 

120.34 

244.41 

31.71 

6.09 

100.84 

242.38 

April, 

24.60 

2.03 

118.03 

244.66 

29.80 

5.43 

105.80 

248.86 

May, 

23.70 

3.58 

120.70 

244.10 

31.96 

2.09 

104. 

252.58 

June, 

21.80 

.90 

129.96 

244.13 

30.08 

6.06 

105.04 

257.83 

July 

22.00 

.77 

132.77 

246.54 

31.87 

3.58 

103.37 

259.41 

August, 

22  54 

.96 

124.28 

245.41: 

35.30 

3.35 

88.93 

261.54 

September, 

21.36 

.26 

134.88 

244.20 

30. 

4 20 

98.50 

267.63 

October, 

23.58 

.43 

145.85 

246.41 

34.19 

4.80 

103.59 

266.90 

November, 

21.10 

1.00 

138.28 

245.63 

31.90 

4.60 

81.86 

264.43 

For  the  year, 

22.81 

1.47 

125.70 

244.57 

30.94 

4.24 

97.38 

258.76 

268 


This  table  also  gives  the  exact  number  of  patients  who 
were  constantly  employed.  The  importance  of  occupation 
in  the  treatment  of  the  insane  cannot  be  overestimated. 
During  the  acute  stage  but  little  can  be  done  in  this  direction. 
But  after  acute  symptoms  have  subsided,  occupation 
improves  the  physical  condition  and  prevents  the  formation 
of  indolent  habits,  even  if  it  cannot  restore  full  mental 
activity.  Every  hospital  contains  a varying  number  of  the 
old,  feeble,  and  lame,  amounting  to  one-third  of  the  whole 
population.  You  observe  that  nearly  fifty  per  cent,  of  the 
women,  and  more  than  that  number  of  men,  were  kept  con- 
stantly at  work  on  the  farm,  in  the  garden,  laundry,  kitchen, 
sewing-room,  or  about  the  wards.  We  have  thus  made  use 
of  nearly  all  of  the  available  force.  The  erection  of  some 
plain,  cheap  greenhouses  would  enable  us  to  interest  some 
others,  and  continue  the  work  during  the  winter  months,  and 
in  this  way  beautify  the  wards  with  flowers  and  plants  when 
most  needed.  Nearly  all  of  the  improvements  about  the 
grounds,  and  a part  of  the  work  at  the  new  reservoir,  were 
made  in  this  way. 

This  table  also  shows  that  only  ten  per  cent  of  the  whole 
number  were  taking  medicine  regularly.  This  is  a fair  aver- 
age in  a State  hospital,  where  three-fourths  of  the  patients 
are  chronic  cases.  It  is  absurd  to  insist  upon  “ dosing  ” men 
and  women  who  are  physically  strong  and  able  to  be  at  work. 
These  persons  require,  are  benefited  by,  and  sometimes 
cured  by  moral  treatment.  They  only  need  medicine  when 
attacked  by  intercurrent  ailments.  I deem  this  fact  worthy  of 
mention  because  some  “ reformers”  have  of  late  insisted  that 
too  little  professional  work  is  being  done  in  hospitals  ; that  the 
number  of  assistant  physicians  should  be  largely  increased, 
etc.,  etc.  I am  convinced  that  this  reasoning  is  fallacious, 
and  results  from  lack  of  practical  experience  with  insanity. 
If  all  insane  persons  were  sent  to  hospitals  immediately,  or 
within  three  months  of  the  attack,  a larger  number  would  re- 
quire constant  professional  care  and  medical  treatment,  and, 
undoubtedly,  many  more  would  recover.  It  should  be  re- 


269 


membered,  however,  that  three-fourths  of  all  admissions  are 
chronic  cases,  in  which  the  functional  or  acute  physical  dis- 
turbance lias  passed  away,  leaving  the  mental  habits  (if  I 
may  use  the  term)  of  insanity.  Such  cases  require  custodial 
care,  and  all  of  the  methods  embraced  in  so-called  “ moral 
treatment  ” which  experience  shows  to  be  more  useful  in  re- 
storing mental  equilibrium  than  drugs  and  medicines. 

It  is  for  these  and  other  equally  good  reasons  that  the 
principle  of  adding  to  every  regular  hospital  for  the  insane  a 
group  or  groups  of  plain,  substantial  buildings  for  the  quiet 
chronic  patients  has  been  adopted  in  some  States,  and  rec- 
ommended in  others.  I believe  the  principle  to  be  correct  in 
theory  and  most  economical  in  practice.  Experience  shows 
that  a well-planned  hospital  for  acute  cases  costs  more  than 
$1,000  per  patient,  while  these  supplemental  buildings  can 
be  added  at  about  one-half  the  sum.  To  these  can  be  trans- 
ferred the  quiet  chronic  patients  who  require  less  professional 
care  and  fewer  attendants.  At  the  same  time,  they  would 
have  the  advantages  derived  from  chapel  privileges,  system- 
atic entertainments,  and  the  general  oversight  of  the  parent 
hospital. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  this  plan,  which  was  considered, 
approved,  and  recommended  to  the  last  General  Assembly  by 
a commission  of  eminent  men,  was  not  promptly  adopted. 
The  plan  of  buildings  submitted  by  this  commission  provided 
for  250  patients.  Responsible  builders  were  ready  to  con- 
tract for  the  same  at  $120,000.  The  rapid  advance  in  cost 
of  material  and  labor  will  necessitate  a much  larger  sum  now. 
But  I trust  that  conscientious  men  of  all  parties,  the  friends 
of  the  insane,  and  believers  in  the  humane  care  of  this 
afflicted  class,  will  unite  in  an  earnest  effort  to  secure  what 
seems  to  be  the  most  reasonable  and  economical  method  of 
providing  suitable  buildings  for  all  of  the  insane  poor  of  Con- 
necticut who  are  still  indifferently  cared  for  in  the  jails  and 
almshouses.  In  this  connection  I should  reiterate  the  fact, 
painfully  evident  to  selectmen  and  others  wTho  have  urgent 
cases  to  provide  for,  that  at  all  times  during  the  past  three 


270 


years,  applicants  have  had  to  wait  from  two  to  three  months 
until  their  turn  could  be  reached,  simply  because  at  all  times 
the  hospital  was  dangerously  overcrowded.  No  human  mind 
can  estimate  the  sum  total  of  care,  suffering,  and  solicitude 
resulting  from  this  delay.  I am  sure,  however,  that  if  the 
most  skeptical  objector  were  obliged  to  stand  at  the  door  of 
this  hospital  for  one  month  and  answer  the  urgent  appeals, 
hear  the  affecting  stories  of  distress,  see  the  helpless  victims 
of  mental  disease,  and  after  all  be  obliged  to  turn  a deaf  ear, 
he  would  be  most  thoroughly  converted  to  favor  any  reasona- 
ble plan  for  making  further  provision  for  this  dependent 
class. 

It  is  evident  to  the  most  casual  observer  that  the  public 
are  not  wholly  satisfied  with  the  present  condition  of  the  in- 
sane. The  objectors  assert  with  reason  that  it  is  unjust  to 
provide  good  accommodations  for  a part,  while  as  many 
more,  equally  worthy,  are  languishing  in  almshouses.  Some 
people  would  abolish  asylums  and  let  each  family  provide  as 
best  they  could  for  their  afflicted  members.  Others  advocate 
a system  of  cottages,  pavilions,  or  colonies  like  Gheel,  or  the 
promiscuous  boarding  out  of  insane  people,  overlooking  the 
fact  that  all  of  these  supplemental  plans  have  been  tried  — 
have  proved  more  or  less  useful  as  auxiliary  measures,  but 
have  failed  to  meet  the  great  requirements  of  governmental 
system.  And  still  others  have  gone  to  the  extreme  of  assert- 
ing that  we  are  all  insane,  or  that  no  one  is  insane,  and  that 
it  is  unjust  to  deprive  any  one  of  his  liberty  for  this  cause. 
These  persons  talk  loudly  about  the  abuses  in  asylums,  and 
would  place  the  officers  on  a par  with  the  criminal  keepers  of 
old  Bedlam  in  the  sixteenth  century.  Disagreeable  as  it  may 
be  for  the  conscientious  Christian  workers  in  this  humane 
field  to  remain  quiet  under  such  unjust  accusations,  I am  not 
sure  that  it  is  on  the  whole  an  evil ; for  it  stimulates  all  to  best 
endeavors,  and  throws  around  the  insane  every  necessary 
safeguard.  In  this  connection  it  may  not  be  inappropriate 
for  me  to  briefly  review  the  history  of  the  insane  and  their 
treatment  from  the  earliest  times.  This  will  serve  to  show 


271 


not  only  how  much  more  skillfully  and  humanely  they  are 
provided  for  now,  but  also  some  of  the  causes  which  led  to 
these  favorable  results.  Insanity  has  existed  from  the  earli- 
est periods.  Some  forms  of  mental  disorder  are  delineated 
in  the  Old  Testament.  The1  Greek  writers  mention  cases  of 
mental  aberration,  and  the  Egyptians  had  temples  and 
priests  dedicated  to  the  care  of  the  insane.  But  Hippocrates 
was  the  first  physician  who  seemed  to  have  any  true  concep- 
tion of  the  real  nature  of  insanity.  It  was  not  until  the  sixth 
century  that  any  attempt  was  made  to  provide  for  deranged 
persons  in  asylums.  To  the  Monks  of  Jerusalem  is  awarded 
the  honor  of  having  built  the  first  hospital  for  the  care  of 
their  fellows  whose  minds  had  become  affected. 

A century  later,  the  fame  of  St.  Dympna  had  extended 
over  Europe,  and  the  insane  were  taken  to  her  shrine  at 
Gheel,  Belgium,  in  the  expectation  of  being  restored  to  men- 
tal health.  In  time,  a colony  grew  up  around  Gheel,  com- 
posed of  the  chronic  insane  living  in  the  houses  of  the  peas- 
ants. Having  its  origin  in  romance  and  superstition,  it  has 
continued  eleven  hundred  years,  and  developed  into  a great 
system  of  governmental  care  of  two  thousand  of  the  quiet 
chronic  insane.  To  the  Spaniards  belongs  the  credit  of  hav- 
ing established  the  first  asylum  in  Western  Europe.  In  the 
year  1409,  a begging  friar,  Jofre  Gilanext,  feeling  much  for 
the  fate  of  the  poor  lunatics  who  wandered  about  the  streets 
and  fields  of  Valencia,  founded  a hospital  for  their  care,  the 
u Cara  de  Orates.”  During  the  next  two  centuries  the  insane 
were  considered  possessed  by  evil  spirits.  Their  treatment 
was  ignorant  and  barbarous.  The  Franciscan  monks  used  to 
whip  daily  those  under  their  charge,  and  many  were  burned 
and  put  to  the  rack  under  the  theory  of  witchcraft  and  devil- 
craft.  In  the  year  1547  the  Hospital  of  St.  Mary  of  Bethle- 
hem, near  London,  was  established  for  the  reception  of  the 
insane.  This  building  was  known  as  Bedlam,  a name  cele- 
brated in  the  history  of  lunacy,  and  unfortunately  still  ap- 
plied to  some  asylums.  The  first  asylum  (St.  Luke’s)  exclu- 
sively for  the  insane  was  founded  in  1751  by  a few  benevolent 


272 


gentlemen  of  London.  It  is  evident  to  the  careful  student  of 
history  that  up  to  the  close  of  the  last  century  the  insane 
were  considered  unworthy  of  public  care. 

The  founding  of  the  few  asylums  already  mentioned  tends 
rather  to  confirm  this  opinion,  as  they  were  exceptional  and 
principally  custodial  in  government.  As  a rule,  when  the  in- 
sane were  not  entirely  neglected,  they  were  incarcerated  in 
jails  or  poorhouses,  where  they  were  kept  in  chains  under  the 
control  of  convicts.  From  this  period  to  the  latter  part  of 
the  eigthteenth  century  little  progress  was  made.  Dr.  W. 
A.  F.  Brown  thus  describes  the  condition  of  the  insane  in 
England  at  that  period  : u The  building  was  gloomy,  low, 

and  confined,  without  windows  to  the  front,  every  chink 
barred  and  grated  — a perfect  gaol.  As  you  enter,  a creak 
of  bolts  and  the  clank  of  chains  are  scarcely  distinguishable 
amid  the  wild  chorus  of  shrieks  and  sobs  which  issue  from 
every  apartment.  Your  conductor  has  the  head  and  visage 
of  a Carib,  carries  a whip  and  a large  bunch  of  keys,  and 
speaks  in  harsh  monosyllables.  The  first  common  room  you 
examine  — measuring  twelve  feet  long  by  seven  wide,  with  a 
window  which  does  not  open  — is  for  women.  Ten  of  them 
with  no  other  covering  than  a rag  around  the  waist,  are 
chained  to  the  wall,  loathsome  and  hideous  ; but,  when  ad- 
dressed, evidently  retaining  some  of  the  intelligence  and  much 
of  the  feeling  which  in  other  days  ennobled  their  nature. 
And  if  you  ask  where  these  creatures  sleep,  you  are  led  to  a 
kennel,  eight  feet  square,  with  an  unglazed  air-hole  eight 
inches  in  diameter;  in  this,  you  are  told,  five  women  sleep. 
The  floor  is  covered,  the  walls  bedaubed  with  filth  ; no  bed- 
ding but  wet,  decayed  straw  is  allowed  ; and  the  stench  is  so 
insupportable  that  you  turn  away  and  hasten  from  the 
scene.” 

That  this  is  no  overdrawn  picture,  is  proved  by  reference 
to  the  condition  of  the  insane  in  France  in  the  year  1792, 
when  the  great  and  good  Pinel  struck  off  the  chains  from 
fifty-three  of  the  most  violent  patients  confined  in  the  Bicetre 
at  Paris,  and  restored  them  to  light  and  liberty.  The  history 


273 


of  this  glorious  achievement  is  found  in  a memoir  read  by  the 
son  of  Pinel  before  the  Royal  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences: 
“ Having  repeatedly  importuned  the  government  to  issue  a 
decree  permitting  him  to  unchain  the  maniacs  at  the  Bicetre, 
he  went  in  person  to  solicit  what  had  been  refused  to  his  writ- 
ten representation.  With  courage  and  resolution  he  urged 
the  removal  of  this  cruel  abuse.  At  length,  M.  Couthon, 
member  of  the  commune,  yielded  to  the  importunate  argu- 
ments of  Pinel,  and  consented  to  meet  him  at  the  hospital  to 
witness  these  first  experiments,  as  well  as  to  assure  himself 
that  this  was  not  a stratagem  to  give  liberty  to  political  of- 
fenders. Couthon  proceeded,  himself,  to  question  the  pa- 
tients, but  received  only  abuse  and  execrations,  accompanied 
by  terrible  cries  and  the  clanking  of  chains.  Retreating 
from  the  damp  and  filthy  cells,  he  exclaimed  to  Pinel,  ‘ Do  as 
you  will ; but  you  will  be  sacrificed  to  this  false  sentiment  of 
mercy  ! 9 Pinel  delayed  no  longer;  he  selected  fifty,  who  he 
believed  might  be  released  from  their  chains,  without  danger 
to  others.  The  experiment  commenced  with  an  English 
captain  whose  history  was  unknown  ; he  had  been  in  chains 
forty  years  ! As  lie  was  thought  to  be  one  the  most  danger- 
ous, having  killed  at  one  time  an  attendant  with  a blow  from 
his  manacles,  the  keeper  approached  him  with  -caution.  The 
chains  were  removed,  and  the  cell  door  left  open.  He  raised 
himself,  but  fell ; this  effort  was  repeated  again  and  again  ; 
the  use  of  his  limbs  so  long  constrained  nearly  failed ; at 
length,  with  trembling  and  tottering  steps,  he  emerged  from 
his  dark  dungeon.  His  first  look  was  at  the  sky  ! ‘All!’ 
cried  he,  4 how  beautiful.’  The  remainder  of  the  day  he  was 
constantly  moving  to  and  fro,  muttering  continually  excla- 
mations of  pleasure.  At  night  he  voluntarily  returned  to  his 
cell,  which  had  been  cleaned  and  furnished  with  a bed. 

In  the  short  period  of  a few  days,  Pinel  released  from 
their  chains  fifty-three  maniacs.” 

Where  in  the  annals  of  history  is  recorded  a more  cour- 
ageous or  a nobler  act?  This  brave  physician,  alone,  unsup- 
ported, and  fearless,  did  more  to  elevate  and  ennoble  this 
18 


274 


branch  of  science  than  all  who  had  gone  before  him.  We 
do  not  wonder  that  a celebrated  artist  should  have  seized 
upon  his  event  as  a worthy  study  for  a masterpiece  ; or  that 
the  painting  while  hanging  in  the  French  department  of  the 
Paris  Exposition,  should  have  been  continually  surrounded 
by  a throng  of  eager  visitors. 

Notwithstanding  the  success  which  attended  Pinel’s  labors, 
the  reform  which  he  instituted  was  slow  in  its  advances, 
and  we  find  many  years  after  his  death,*  chains  in  common 
use  in  the  treatment  of  the  insane  on  the  continent  of  Europe, 
outside  of  the  great  university  cities,  and  in  Great  Britain. 

“ In  1815  patients  were  chained  to  the  walls  of  the  best 
asylums  of  London. f At  Fonthill  thirteen  out  of  fourteen 
were  in  irons,  and  in  another  asylum  there  was  one  towel  to 
170  patients.”  In  1822,  in  some  countries,  jails  were  used 
as  asylums  without  change  of  structure. 

At  Bethnal  Green  in  1827,  with  500  inmates,  patients  were 
chained  to  their  cribs  and  confined  from  Saturday  evening 
till  Monday  morning  in  order  to  give  their  attendants  a Sun- 
day holiday. 

No  physician  or  surgeon  was  in  charge,  but  an  apothecary 
made  visits  two  or  three  times  a week.  At  Lincoln  Asylum 
39  of  the  92  patients  were  continuously  restrained.  But  it  is 
unnecessary  to  multiply  examples  from  the  official  records. 
Enough  has  been  said  to  show  that  like  all  great  reforms  the 
improvement  in  the  condition  of  the  insane  was  slow  and  al- 
most imperceptible  until  the  labors  of  Pinel  and  Esquirol  in 
France,  Tuke,  Gardiner  Hill,  and  Conolly  in  England,  and 
Rush,  Wyman,  and  Todd  in  America,  had  shown  to  the  world 
that  the  humane  care  of  the  insane  was  not  only  possible, 
but  also  necessary  and  economical.  It  must  ever  be  gratify- 
ing to  us  as  Americans  to  remember  the  part  our  country  has 
exercised  in  this  good  work.  For  a period  of  nearly  half  a 
century,  it  is  generally  conceded  that  American  alienists 
were  more  prompt  in  adopting  and  more  thorough  in  execut- 


* Dr.  Folsom,  Disease  of  Mind,  page  10. 
\ Dr.  Folsom,  page  13. 


275 


ing  principles  of  reform,  than  those  of  the  older  established 
communities  of  Europe. 

At  the  time  when  Conolly  had  only  begun  his  great  work 
in  England,  Miss  Dix  was  directing  the  attention  of  the  legis- 
lature to  the  deplorable  condition  of  the  insane  in  the  poor- 
houses  and  jails  of  Massachusetts. 

In  1837,  Dr.  Browne  of  Edinburgh,  said  : “ In  some  parts 
of  America  there  appears  to  be  an  ample  realization  of  all 
that  I have  wished  to  inculcate  as  necessary  to  place  the 
lunatic  in  that  condition  which  is  most  conducive  to  his  hap- 
piness and  recovery.”  Writing  from  England  in  1841,  Dr. 
Edward  Jarvis  said:  “ Most  of  the  American  asylums  are 
doing  more  for  the  cure  of  insanity  than  any  others  in  the 
world.” 

From  that  period  to  the  present  there  has  been  constant 
progress.  This  half  century  has  witnessed  the  abolition  of 
nearly  all  kinds  of  mechanical  restraint,  and  the  substitution 
of  moral  persuasion,  gentleness,  and  kindness  together  with 
more  intelligent  treatment,  based  on  clinical  and  pathologi- 
cal studies. 

The  old  Bedlam,  with  its  narrow  halls  and  its  darkened 
cells,  has  given  place  to  our  cheerful,  commodious,  and  well 
ventilated  modern  hospital.  Even  in  the  old-  asylum  build- 
ings great  improvements  have  been  introduced  ; and  the  per- 
sonal comfort  of  the  patients  is  more  and  more  an  object  of 
solicitude  and  study. 

The  introduction  of  amusements,  entertainments,  and 
mechanical  occupations,  gatherings  for  religious  exercises, 
readings  and  recitations,  systems  of  regular  exercise  by  walk- 
ing and  working,  are  but  a few  of  the  means  embraced  in  the 
moral  treatment  at  every  well-regulated  asylum. 

Careful  inspection  of  the  best  hospitals  in  England,  and  a 
few  in  Germany  and  France,  has  convinced  the  writer  that 
the  construction,  organization,  and  general  management  at 
hospitals  in  the  United  States  compare  favorably  with  the 
best  in  Europe. 

The  improvement  in  asylum  buildings  has  been  so  marked 


276 


that  many  conscientious  alienists  believe  that  the  expensively 
constructed  hospitals  in  New  York  and  Massachusetts  are 
unwarranted,  in  view  of  the  purposes  for  which  they  are 
created  — an  opinion  in  which  I heartily  concur.  All  im- 
provements and  any  expense  that  will  add  to  the  health  or 
comfort  of  the  insane  are  justifiable.  A due  regard  should 
be  paid  to  durability,  security,  and  safety  from  fire.  But 
ornate  architectural  embellishments  and  lavish  expenditures 
in  finish  and  furnishings,  are  not  justifiable  in  our  State  hos- 
pitals. Simplicity  and  convenience  in  plan,  and  durability 
in  construction  should  bg  the  controlling  considerations. 

In  his  last  annual  report  the  president  of  the  New  York 
State  Board  of  Charities  justly  observes  : 

“The  various  recipients  of  public  beneficence  may  be  properly 
divided  into  two  classes,  viz.:  the  curable,  or  those  likely  to  be  re- 
stored to  society  under  proper  treatment,  and  thus  rendered  self- 
sustaining;  and  the  incurable  or  permanently  dependent.  The 
needs  of  these  two  classes  differ  widely.  For  the  first,  a greater 
outlay  for  buildings,  securing  extended  classification  and  hospital 
convenience,  becomes  necessary  ; and  some  public  policy,  as  well 
as  considerations  of  humanity,  warrant  the  employment  of  such 
remedial  and  corrective  agencies  as  are  designed  to  effect  recovery. 
The  second,  or  incurable  class,  require  custodial  accommodations 
only  and  the  buildings  for  these  should  be  designed  at  the  lowest 
possible  cost  consistent  with  their  proper  oversight  and  care.  The 
buildings  should  be  plain,  comfortable,  and  durable,  and  properly 
adapted  to  their  purposes,  but  without  ornamentation  or  embellish- 
ment.” 

This  brief  retrospect  shows  that,  compared  with  any  period 
of  the  past,  the  insane  of  to-day  are  receiving  humane  care  in 
the  spirit  of  intelligent,  Christian  kindness. 

In  searching  for  the  causes  which  have  led  to  these  im- 
provements, we  recognize  three  distinct  periods  of  time,  and 
certain  elements  of  professional  labor  as  most  important  fac- 
tors. In  the  first  period,  extending  to  1792,  the  insane  were 
considered  unworthy  of  sympathy,  because  of  their  supposed 
possession  of  devils  or  evil  spirits.  Hence  their  care  was  left 


277 


to  criminals  and  rough  keepers,  without  the  supervision  of 
medical  men.  The  second  period  extends  from  1792  to  1830, 
during  which  time  the  old  asylums  were  remodeled,  new  ones 
erected,  and  all  organized  on  the  same  basis  as  general  hos- 
pitals for  sick  or  surgical  cases.  A steward  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  general  management,  while  attending  physi- 
cians— not  resident  — visited  the  patients  and  prescribed  for 
their  ailments.  This  was  a great  stride  towards  perfection 
and  resulted  in  positive  good  to  the  insane.  But  the  experi- 
ences of  this  period  were  sufficient  to  show  that  it  was  nec- 
essary to  go  one  step  farther.  The  superintending  physicians 
must  reside  in  the  building — live  with  their  patients  — have 
hourly  communication  with  them  to  know  their  thoughts  and 
delusions,  before  they  could  exercise  full  medical  and  moral 
control.  Hence  another  radical  change  in  the  organization 
of  hospitals  took  place,  and  the  third  period  began.  Super- 
intending physician  were  appointed,  having  full  control,  un- 
der a board  of  trustees  and  managers,  of  the  professional  and 
general  affairs  of  the  institution.  Their  time  was  devoted  to 
the  work.  Attendants  and  employes  held  office  only  during 
good  behavior.  Improvement  soon  became  manifest  in  the 
general  morale  of  the  institution.  Home  life  was  developed, 
and,  in  short,  hospitals  were  elevated  to  the  rank  of  homes 
for  the  insane,  governed  on  the  same  broad  principles  as 
those  which  are  necessary  to  success  in  the  management  of 
railroads,  manufacturing  concerns,  ships,  or  armies.  The 
principle  of  a responsible  head  with  undivided  authority  suc- 
ceeded that  of  limited  authority. 

The  results  have  been  manifest  during  the  past  half  cen- 
tury, in  the  almost  total  abolition  of  mechanical  restraint, 
greater  freedom,  the  introduction  of  amusements,  exercise 
games,  and  labor  as  auxiliary  to  medical  treatment.  During 
this  period  medical  men  in  charge  of  hospitals  have  vied  with 
one  another  in  effecting  reforms ; and  it  is  owing  largely  to 
their  individual  efforts  that  the  insane  of  this  age  enjoy  so 
many  privileges.  Ambitious  on  the  one  hand  to  enlarge 
these  privileges,  they  are  conservative  on  the  other  in  wish- 


278 


ing  to  check  visionary  projects.  Investigation  of  this  sub- 
ject will  convince  any  unprejudiced  mind,  that  they,  and  not 
the  extremists,  are  the  true  friends  of  the  insane.  Undoubt- 
edly much  remains  to  be  accomplished.  The  field  of  labor 
is  large  and  the  workmen  few.  But  in  the  future,  as  in  the 
past,  intelligent  experience  should  be  the  controlling 
influence. 

At  the  date  of  the  last  annual  report  the  work  of  remodel- 
ing the  old  stone  carpenter’s  shop  into  a cottage  for  the  most 
excitable  and  noisy  female  patients  had  progressed  sufficiently 
to  warrant  a brief  description  of  the  building.  This  annex, 
as  it  has  been  called,  was  opened  on  the  26th  day  of  March, 
since  which  time  twenty-four  patients  have  been  well  cared 
for,  each  one  having  a single  room  at  night,  and  three  attend- 
ants in  charge.  Transfers  are  made  as  necessary,  and  it  has 
served  a good  purpose,  although  causing  additional  care  and 
anxiety  to  the  officers. 

During  January  last  the  amusement  hall  in  the  fourth 
story  of  the  center  building  was  completed.  The  body  of  the 
hall  will  seat  400  persons.  The  stage  is  large  and  well  fur- 
nished with  simple  scenery  designed  to  represent  rooms, 
landscapes,  and  streets.  During  the  winter  season  no  less 
than  fifty- three  evenings  were  pleasantly  passed  in  dancing, 
witnessing  plays,  or  listening  to  readings,  concerts,  and 
lectures. 

The  following  table  shows  the  nature  and  variety  of  the 
entertainments : 

One  Lecture  on  Heredity  — Dr.  Comings,  New  Britain. 

One  Lecture  on  English  Literature  — Green  Kendrick,  Esq., 
W aterbury. 

One  Lecture  on  Travels  in  England  — Rev.  John  S.  Bayne, 
Portland. 

One  Lecture  on  Man  in  his  Relations  to  Modern  Inventions  — 
Rev.  Mr.  Tabor,  Middletown. 

One  Lecture  on  Africa — - Rev.  C.  L.  Loomis,  Middletown. 

One  Lecture  on  The  Adirondacks — Rev.  C.  L.  Loomis,  Mid- 
dletown. 


279 


One  Lecture  on  Vesuvius  — Prof.  William  North  Rice,  Middle 
town. 

One  Select  Reading  — Prof.  Hibbard,  New  Britain. 

Thirteen  Assemblies  — Music  and  Dancing. 

Fourteen  Stereopticon  Exhibitions  — Drs.  Shew,  Olmstead,  and 
Fisher. 

One  Concert  — Faust  Musical  Society,  Middletown. 

Two  Concerts  — Home  talent,  assisted  by  Misses  Mathewson, 
Derby,  and  Camp,  and  Mr.  Camp. 

One  evening,  Minstrels  — Hospital  Troupe. 

One  evening,  Minstrels  — Young  Gentlemen’s  Club,  Middletown. 

One  Concert  and  Farce  — Wesleyan  University  Students. 

One  evening,  Mrs.  Jarley’s  W ax  Works  and  a Farce  — Home 
talent. 

One  evening,  Prestidigitation  — Mr.  E.  A.  Parsons,  Middletown. 

One  evening,  Comedy,  Our  Boys  — Mr.  Elmer  and  Friends, 
Middletown. 

Five  evenings,  Dramatic  Entertainments  — Home  talent. 

One  evening.  Comedy — Portland  Dramatic  Association. 

Three  evenings.  Drama  — T.  A.  B.  Society,  Middletown. 

I am  under  deep  obligations  to  the  officers  and  employes, 
who  have  cheerfully  devoted  their  personal  efforts  to  this 
object ; and  especially  to  the  gentlemen  and  ladies  of  Middle- 
town  who  have  again  and  again  cheerfully  responded  to  our 
call  for  musical  assistance,  dramatic  entertainments,  and 
lectures. 

During  the  summer  months  the  hospital  band,  under  Col. 
Thayer’s  direction,  played  at  least  two  hours  daily,  while  the 
feeble  and  most  excitable  patients  — in  fact,  all  who  were  not 
at  work  — were  exercising  or  resting  under  the  large  rustic 
arbor.  On  two  evenings  each  week  the  band  has  given  out- 
door concerts  in  front  of  the  north  wings. 

The  exercises  in  marching  and  other  military  evolutions 
have  been  continued.  Considerable  worthy  emulation  was 
created  by  Dr.  Olmstead’s  promise  of  a handsome  banner  to 
the  company  (each  ward  forming  a company)  that  should 
obtain  the  greatest  proficiency  in  marching,  the  award  to  be 
made  by  some  impartial  military  judge.  It  is  worthy  of 


280 


record  that  the  banner  was  fairly  won  by  the  company  from 
our  ward  o.f  most  excitable  patients,  under  the  care  of  attend- 
ants Jaquith  and  Fowler. 

One  of  the  most  important  improvements  made  since  your 
last  report  is  that  of  a new  reservoir.  It  is  situated  on  But- 
ler’s Creek,  2,000  feet  above  the  present  reservoir.  The  dam 
is  210  feet  long,  17  feet  high  in  the  center,  with  an  outer 
slope  of  one  and  one-half  feet  horizontal  to  one  foot  vertical, 
and  with  an  inner  slope  of  two  feet  horizontal  to  one  foot 
vertical.  The  inner  slope  is  carefully  covered  with  rip-rap. 

The  12-inch  iron  waste-pipe  and  6-inch  iron  supply-pipe 
are  supported  on  a foundation  of  stone  masonry  laid  in 
cement.  The  gates  are  placed  in  a strong  brick  house  below 
the  toe  wall  of  the  dam.  This  work  has  furnished  employ- 
ment to  many  of  our  quiet  chronic  patients  during  the  pleas- 
ant summer  weather.  By  this  means  we  secure  a large  sup- 
ply of  reserve  water,  to  be  used  in  case  of  severe  drouth. 
The  reservoir  covers  about  three  acres,  with  a capacity  of 
4,466,800  gallons. 

I would  respectfully  recommend  that  an  iron  pipe  be  laid 
from  this  reservoir  to  connect  with  the  pipe  now  leading  to 
the  hospital,  thereby  obtaining  a head  of  160  feet.  As 
additional  security  against  fire,  I recommend  that  a water- 
main  and  hydrants  be  placed  around  and  outside  the  hospital 
buildings.  Every  ward  now  contains  a supply-pipe  and  150 
feet  of  hose  always  attached  and  in  place.  But  there  are  no 
outside  appliances. 

In  the  way  of  general  repairs  and  improvements,  I would 
mention  additions  to  the  farm  barn,  building  1,200  feet  of 
high  picket  fence,  a house  for  the  engineer,  re-slating  the 
center  roof,  laying  concrete  walks  to  the  annex,  grotfting 
vegetable  cellars,  painting  the  walls  throughout  four  wards, 
refitting  closets,  etc.,  etc.  Continual  oversight  is  needed  to 
keep  all  of  the  rooms  and  passageways  in  good  repair,  in  a 
large  building  occupied  by  irresponsible  persons. 


I 


281 

FARM. 

Reference  to  the  farmer’s  report  shows  that  the  year  has 
been  productive  of  good  results  for  the  labor  expended.  The 
yield  of  vegetables  was  large  and  of  good  quality,  but  the 
prevailing  rot  almost  ruined  the  potato  crop  of  4,000  bushels. 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT. 

By  referring  to  the  treasurer’s  report  and  my  financial 
statement  herewith  appended,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  total 
revenue  for  the  year  was  fill, 985. 96.  The  sum  total  of 
payments  was  $111,733.75.  To  get  the  actual  cost  of  sup- 
port per  week  for  each  patient  we  must  deduct  $13,258.30, 
which  sum  was  paid  for  purposes  not  actually  entering  into 


the  cost  of  support,  as  follows : 

Refunded  to  patients  when  discharged,  . . . $134.52 

Paid  for  insurance  of  buildings,  . . . . . 652.25 

Paid  for  land  (new  reservoir),  . . . . . 462.24 

Paid  for  burial  expenses,  . . . . . . 124.10 

Paid  for  construction,  new  buildings,  ....  11,885.19 


$13,258.30 

Making  this  deduction  I find  that  the  average  weekly  cost 
of  support  of  each  patient  was  $3.80,  and  this  includes  board, 
medical  treatment,  salaries,  clothing,  and  repairing,  in  fact, 
everything.  The  abstract  on  page  45  gives  a classified  list 
of  all  expenditures.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that,  notwith- 
standing the  extensive  permanent  improvements  made  this 
year,  and  an  increased  daily  average  of  twenty-four  (24) 
patients,  the  expenses  have  been  only  $457.06  more  than  the 
preceding  year. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

Mr.  T.  S.  Gold,  secretary  of  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
kindly  furnished  valuable  reports  from  other  States.  A box 
of  books  and  pamphlets  for  the  hospital  library  was  received 
from  Mrs.  E.  B.  Monroe  of  Southport.  Messrs.  Sumner  & 
Hazen  of  Middletown  also  presented  five  volumes.  One  pair 


282 


of  cymbals  for  the  hospital  band  came  from  Mr.  Pickering  of 
Portland,  and  four  barrels  of  apples  from  Mr.  E.  Buckman 
of  North  Woodstock.  Mr.  Borgelt  of  Middletown  tastefully 
decorated  with  frescoes  the  proscenium  of  the  new  amuse- 
ment hall. 

The  officers  and  employes  of  the  hospital  subscribed  $100 
toward  the  amount  required  to  purchase  a Steinway  piano 
for  the  new  hall.  The  following  named  persons  also  con- 
tributed to  the  fund:  Benj.  Douglas,  Henry  G.  Hubbard, 

Dr.  J.  W.  Alsop,  Mrs.  S.  D.  Hubbard,  J.  H.  Bunce,  C.  M. 
Newton,  Geo.  H.  Hulburt,  J.  N.  Camp,  0.  Vincent  Coffin,  W. 
W.  Wilcox,  Hon.  James  E.  English,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Russell,  Mrs. 
E.  N.  Colt,  Mrs.  Wolcott  Huntington,  Seth  H.  Butler,  H.  E. 
Weeks,  E.  F.  Sheldon,  E.  B.  Smith,  Geo.  F.  Prior,  H.  S. 
White,  H.  J.  Johnson,  Edward  Payne,  T.  E.  F.  Randolph,  A. 
B.  Gillett,  S.  Stearns,  Jr.,  Messrs.  Pelton  & King,  Coles  & 
Atkins,  Southmayd  & Gardiner,  I.  L.  Coe  & Son,  Clark  & 
Tryon,  Talcott  & Post,  Smith,  Northam  & Robinson,  E. 
Loveland,  and  B.  A.  Simmons.  Grateful  acknowledgments 
are  due  to  each  and  all  for  their  kind  remembrance. 
Newspapers  wTere  gratuitously  received  as  follows : 


The  Courant,  Daily,  .... 

The  Post,  Daily,  .... 

The  Register,  Daily,  .... 

The  Winsted  Herald,  Weekly,  . 

The  Palladium,  Weekly,  . 

The  Times,  Weekly,  .... 

The  Bridgeport  Standard  Weekly, 

The  Tolland  County  Journal,  Weekly, 
The  Sheltering  Arms,  Monthly, 

The  Connecticut  Western  News,  Weekly, 
The  Constitution,  Weekly, 

The  Sentinel  and  Witness,  Weekly,  . 

The  Religious  Herald,  Weekly, 

The  Weekly  Witness,  Weekly,  . 


Hartford 
Hartford 
New  Haven 
Winsted 
New  Haven 
Hartford 
Bridgeport 
Rockville 
New  York 
Salisbury 
Middletown 
Middletown 
Hartford 
New  York 


Where  success  in  management  depends  largely  on  the 
intelligence  and  fidelity  of  associate  officers  having  the 
immediate  oversight,  it  is  gratifying  to  report  that  the  vari- 
ous responsible  positions  are  still  occupied  by  the  officers 


283 


who  have  efficiently  performed  these  duties  in  the  past. 
Only  one  change  has  occurred.  Miss  Holmes  tendered  her 
resignation  August  1st.  Mrs.  Weatherbee  was  appointed 
assistant  matron  or  housekeeper  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Tn  conclusion,  I desire  to  express  my  deep  obligation  to  all 
who  are  associated  with  me  in  hospital  work,  to  the  mem- 
bers of  your  board,  who  by  intelligent  co-operation  and  per- 
sonal kindness,  have  greatly  assisted  in  sharing  the  burdens 
of  another  year,  and  to  a kind  heavenly  Father,  who  has 
blessed  our  labors  in  the  past. 

Reverently  invoking  His  aid  and  blessing  in  the  future, 

I have  the  honor  to  be 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

A.  M.  SHEW, 
Superintendent . 

December  1,  1879. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut : 

The  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane 
have  the  honor  to  present  herewith  their  fifteenth  annual 
report,  with  the  reports  of  the  superintendent  and  treasurer, 
etc. 

Your  attention  is  respectfully  invited  to  that  part  of  the 
superintendent’s  report  which  alludes  to  the  new  buildings 
and  additions  in  connection  with  the  existing  annex  hospital, 
as  well  as  to  the  alterations  and  improvements  which  are 
rendered  needful  by  the  extension  of  the  annex  hospital  and 
consequent  increase  of  the  number  of  the  patients.  You  will 
observe  that  changes  are  necessitated  for  the  supply  of  food 
from  increased  population,  as  well  as  for  laundry  and  work- 
shop accommodations,  and  for  adequate  protection  from  fire. 

You  are  therefore  asked  for  an  appropriation  of  $10,000, 
our  first  application  for  several  years,  viz. : 

$3,000  for  protection  from  fire  (outside  of  buildings). 

$3,000  for  purchases  of  additional  cows,  and  erection  of  a 
barn  for  them. 

$2,000  for  needed  workshops. 

$2,000  for  additional  laundry  apparatus. 

As  detailed  in  superintendent’s  paper. 

The  total  number  of  patients  who  have  been  treated  during 
the  year  has  been  651.  Number  remaining  30th  Nov.,  1880, 


285 


528,  of  which  were  251  men  and  277  women.  Total  of 
deaths  for  the  year,  30. 

General  health  has  prevailed,  and  the  deaths  have  occurred 
from  maladies  usual  to  the  hospital,  in  which  it  is  ever  the 
same  painful  story  of  diseases  of  that  delicate  and  easily 
deranged  part  of  the  human  system — -the  brain  — diseases 
proceeding  from  the  many  varying  conditions  of  men’s  lives; 
neglect  of  ordinary  sanitary  laws  of  living ; indulgence  of 
passions;  overwork.  The  well-known  disappointments  and 
harrassments  of  commercial,  professional,  religious,  and 
domestic  conditions  are  all  constant  factors  in  producing 
insanity,  even  when  hereditary  predisposition  is  not  taken 
into  account. 

There  come  to  your  hospital,  from  time  to  time,  very  sad 
instances  of  mental  decay  which  are  a lesson  to  us  who  have 
to  know  about  them.  Melancholy,  indeed,  is  it  to  see  a 
decline  from  professional  activity  and  prosperity;  from  some 
eminent  position  in  the  scientific  world  as  a respected  teacher; 
a fall,  with  loss  of  intellect,  which  brings  a poor,  imbecile 
old  man  the  inmate  of  your  walls,  without  whose  protection 
he  would  soon  pass  in  helpless  misery  to  a miserable  death, 
while,  by  your  bounty,  his  declining  days  are  succored  in 
cleanliness  and  with  provident  care. 

Temporary  accommodations  have  been  recently  made  in 
separate  buildings  for  20  women  and  for  30  men.  Those  most 
unlikely  to  give  trouble  have  been  moved  to  these  buildings, 
making  room  in  the  hospital  proper  for  new  cases  immedi- 
ately needing  medical  care. 

In  addition  to  these  there  are  applications  for  admission  of 
80,  60  of  which  number  are  for  men. 

We  wait  with  deep  interest  the  delivery  to  your  board  of 
the  new  hospital  now  in  course  of  construction,  under  the 
care  of  the  State  committee  appointed  by  the  Governor. 


286 


The  terms  of  service  as  trustees  of  the  members  from 
Hartford  and  Tolland  counties  expire  at  this  time.  Their 
reappointment  is  respectfully  asked. 

Respectfully  submitted, 


CHARLES  B.  ANDREWS, 
H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 
RICHMOND  M.  BULLOCK, 
RICHARD  S.  FELLOWES, 
HENRY  WOODWARD, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 

EZRA  P.  BENNETT,  M.I)., 
JOSEPH  W.  ALSOP,  M.D., 
E.  B.  NYE,  M.D., 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 


Litchfidd. 

Windsor. 

Tolland. 

Colchester. 

Putnam. 

New  Haven. 

Middletown. 

Norfolk. 

Danbury. 

Middletown. 

Middletown. 

Middletown. 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  : 

Gentlemen  — 

This  fifteenth  report  covers  the  fiscal  year  commencing 
December  1,  1879,  and  closing  November  30,  1880. 

The  period  has  been  one  of  quiet,  active  labor,  free  from 
exciting  incidents,  pestilence,  or  unusual  sickness.  When 
measured  by  the  number  of  changes  in  the  population,  and 
the  character  of  cases  presented  for  treatment,  it  shows 
progress  in  legitimate  hospital  work. 

There  were,  at  the  commencement  of  the  year,  five  hun- 
dred and  ten  patients.  Applications  were  made  for  the 
admission  of  three  hundred  and  seven.  Only  one  hundred 
and  forty-four  of  these  could  be  admitted  for  want  of  room. 
The  number  received  would  have  been  much  less  than  report- 
ed but  for  our  practice  of  returning  to  friends  or  placing  out 
all  who  could  be  so  disposed  of  without  disadvantage  to 
themselves.  This  custom  reduces  the  list  of  those  reported 
recovered,  and  swells  the  list  of  those  reported  improved. 
Candor  compels  us  to  tabulate  as  simply  improved  many 
persons  who  would  be  reported  as  fully  restored  to  health  if 
they  could  have  remained  a short  time  longer.  Such  in- 
stances come  to  my  notice  where  the  subsequent  history  shows 
firm  mental  health. 

The  following  table  exhibits,  in  condensed  form,  the 
movements  of  the  population : 


288 


Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

Number  at  the  beginning  of  the  year, 

246 

264 

510 

Admitted  in  the  year, 

73 

71 

144 

Total  present  in  the  year, 

319 

335 

654 

Discharged  — recovered, 

11 

19 

30 

improved, 

15 

14 

29 

stationary, 

26 

11 

37 

died,  . 

16 

14 

30 

Remaining  at  the  end  of  the  year,  . 

251 

277 

528 

Average  present  during  the  year,  . 

250  68 

263  95 

514.63 

\ 

Six  hundred  and  fifty  persons  received  treatment  during 
the  year.  The  number  of  admissions  — one  hundred  and 
forty-four  — represents  so  many  different  individuals.  No 
person  is  admitted  or  discharged  more  than  once  during  the 
official  year.  Thirty  persons  were  discharged  fully  restored 
to  health.  Twenty-five  of  these  were  recoveries  from  a first 
attack,  four  from  a second,  and  one  from  a fifth.  It  is  rea- 
sonable to  expect  that  some  of  the  thirty  may  again  require 
hospital  care. 

Nearly  all  of  the  twenty-nine  reported  improved , when  dis- 
charged, were  hopeful  cases,  with  such  evidences  of  mental 
stability  as  to  warrant  their  being  sent  home  “ on  trial,”  to 
make  room  for  more  urgent  cases.  Occasionally  one  of  these 
is  returned,  but  generally  the  trial  results  in  their  remaining 
at  home. 

Three  male  patients  were  discharged  as  not  insane.  One 
of  these  came  from  Wethersfield  prison;  another  was  sent 
to  the  hospital  by  the  Hartford  police  court,  and  the  third 
was  simply  an  inebriate,  who  remained  until  the  alcohol  had 
evaporated. 

Thirty-four  quiet  chronic  cases  were  removed  by  town 
officials  to  make  room  for  more  urgent  ones.  The  custom  is 
justifiable  by  reason  of  the  claim  which  recent  cases  have  to 
early  treatment.  But  it  is  none  the  less  depressing  to  wit- 
ness the  return  of  demented  and  often  helpless  invalids  to 
the  ordinary  almshouse.  It  will  be  a source  of  gratification 
to  be  able  to  retain  all  such  cases  as  soon  as  the  new  build- 


2S9 


ings  are  completed.  The  usefulness  of  a hospital  is  shown 
as  much  in  taking  proper  care  of  the  chronic  and  often  help- 
less lunatics,  as  in  the  cure  of  the  few  acute  cases  which  find 
entrance.  The  record  is,  perhaps,  less  brilliant,  but  none  the 
less  important,  in  the  estimation  of  Christian  philanthropists. 

I have  already  referred  to  the  prevalence  of  general  good 
health.  The  number  of  deaths  was  thirty,  or  5.82  per  cent., 
of  the  total  number  under  treatment.  Only  once  — the  year 
immediately  preceding  this,  which  was  exceptionally  low  — 
have  I been  able  to  report  so  small  a death  rate.  Ten  of  the 
thirty  wrere  more  than  sixty  years  old,  and  five  had  passed 
beyond  the  allotted  period  of  life.  One  female,  aged  sixty, 
was  brought  to  the  hospital  in  a dying  condition,  too  feeble 
to  raise  her  head  from  the  pillow,  and  the  left  lower  limb 
covered  with  gangrenous  sloughs.  Death  came  as  a blessed 
relief  on  the  third  day. 

Another,  aged  forty,  was  kept  alive  three  days  by  the  lib- 
eral use  of  stimulants.  Why  the  authorities  should  have 
taken  the  responsibility  of  moving  either  of  these  patients,  in 
their  extremely  exhausted  condition,  is  beyond  my  compre- 
hension. Death  was  caused  by  apoplexy  in  three ; by  epi- 
leptic convulsions  in  three ; by  pulmonary  consumption  in 
three ; by  Bright’s  disease  of  the  kidneys  in  two ; by  cardiac 
thrombosis  in  one  ; by  aneurism  of  the  internal  carotid  artery 
in  one  ; by  cerebral  softening  in  one ; by  general  paralysis  in 
one ; by  senile  decay  in  three ; and  by  acute  mania  in  one. 
The  average  age  of  all  who  died  was  48.46  years.  Deaths 
occurred  in  months  as  follows : 

In  December  4,  in  January  2,  in  February  2,  in  March  0, 
in  April  0,  in  May  3,  in  June  4,  in  July  3,  in  August  5,  in 
September  2,  in  October  2,  and  in  November  3.  The  follow- 
ing table  shows  the  number  of  deaths  each  year,  the  percent- 
age of  the  whole  number,  and  of  the  average  number  present: 


19 


290 


Deaths  and  their  Ratios,  from  May  1,  1868,  to  Nov.  80,  1880. 


Official 

Whole 

number 

Daily  aver- 

DEATHS. 

Per  cent, 
on  whole 

Per  cent,  on 
daily  aver- 
age number 
of  patients. 

Year. 

of 

patients. 

age  number 
or  patients. 

Men. 

Women. 

Total. 

number  of 
patients. 

1868-69, 

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17:57 

1869-70, 

343 

225.17 

18 

3 

21 

6.12 

9 32 

1870-71, 

307 

237. 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72, 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-73, 

336 

264  53 

12 

9 

21 

6.25 

7.86 

1873-74, 

524 

239.51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75, 

605 

425  80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76, 

616 

452.64 

26 

7 

33 

5.35 

7.31 

1876,  8 mos., 
Dec.  1,  ’76, 

548 

456.97 

9 

6 

15 

2.73 

3.28 

Nov.  30,  ’77, 

619 

463.88 

19 

12 

31 

5 01 

6.69 

1877-78, 

629 

474.17 

27 

13 

40 

6.36 

8 43 

1878-79, 

644 

498.34 

9 

10 

19 

2 95 

3.81 

1879-80, 

654 

514.63 

16 

14 

30 

4.58 

5.82 

The  average  number  of  patients  present  during  the  year 
was  a fraction  less  than  five  hundred  and  fifteen  — seventeen 
more  than  during  the  next  preceding  year. 

Your  attention  is  called  to  tables  IX  and  X,  which  show 
by  whose  order  patients  are  admitted.  One  hundred  and 
twenty-three  were  sent  by  order  of  judges  of  probate  courts ; 
eight  by  judges  of  the  superior  court;  four  by  judges  of  the 
police  courts ; eight  by  order  of  His  Excellency  Governor 
Andrews,  and  one  by  bonds  furnished  by  friends. 

Table  X shows  how  they  were  supported,  viz. : eighty- 
eight  by  the  State  and  towns  (paupers)  ; forty  by  the  State 
and  friends  (indigents) ; fifteen  by  the  State  alone,  and  one 
by  friends.  At  this  date  five  hundred  and  twenty-six  of  the 
five  hundred  and  twenty-eight  patients  are  chargeable  to  the 
State  and  towns.  Only  two  are  supported  entirely  by  friends. 
It  thus  appears  that  the  institution  is  providing  for  the  chari- 
table patients,  while  those  who  have  means  must  seek  accom- 
modations elsewhere.  While  a State  hospital  should  always 
give  preference  to  the  poor,  strict  enforcement  of  the  rule 
excluding  all  paying  patients  does  injustice  to  many  worthy 
persons  of  limited  means  who  would  rather  make  great  per- 
sonal sacrifices  and  pay  the  entire  expense  — four  dollars  per 


291 


week  — than  to  apply  for  assistance  to  the  town  or  State.  I 
trust  that  when  the  new  buildings  are  opened  all  distinctions 
as  to  class  may  be  removed. 

It  has  been  said  that  statistics  are  not  reliable  as  a basis 
from  which  to  deduce  general  truths.  This  may  be  true 
respecting  some  forms  of  deductions,  but  it  does  not  hold 
true  respecting  all. 

For  instance,  table  IV  in  the  appendix  gives  the  age  at 
which  1,914  patients  became  insane.  A study  of  this  table 
proves  that  insanity  is,  pre-eminently,  a disease  of  middle 
life. 

Thirteen  hundred  and  thirteen,  about  three-fourths  of  the 
whole  number,  became  insane  between  twenty  and  fifty  years 
of  age.  It  is  during  the  period  of  greatest  domestic  activity 
and  business  enterprise,  when  the  intellectual  faculties  and 
the  emotions  are  most  powerfully  and  continuously  excited, 
that  the  human  mind  becomes  deranged.  Now,  if  death  or 
recovery  followed  speedily,  as  in  other  diseases,  the  State 
would  not  be  called  upon  to  provide  for  insane  persons.  But, 
unfortunately,  insanity  is  a disease  which  tends  to  chronicity-. 
In  other  words,  after  the  acute  stage  has  been  passed,  insan- 
ity tends  to  prolong  life,  and  its  subjects  not  only  cease  to  be 
producers  but  become  consumers  during  a long  period  of 
time.  You  observe  in  table  XXVI  that  nearly  one-half  of 
the  528  patients  remaining  at  the  end  of  the  year  were  over 
fifty  years  of  age.  Many  of  these  have  been  inmates  of  the 
institution  since  its  opening,  thirteen  years  ago,  and  they 
show  fewer  evidences  of  the  flight  of  time  and  the  approach 
of  age  than  do  those  who  have  had  the  laborious  care  of 
them. 

A careful  study  of  this  aspect  of  insanity  has  led  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  prevalent  notion  respecting  the  rapid  in- 
crease of  mental  diseases  is  at  least  questionable.  Two  facts 
should  be  remembered  when  considering  this  subject:  Popu- 
lation is  rapidly  increasing,  and  the  care  and  treatment  of 
insane  persons  is  so  much  more  humane  than  formerly,  that 
their  life  is  measurably  prolonged.  Society,  by  its  benevo- 


292 


lent  care,  is  providing  for  this  accumulation.  It  can  be 
sho^n  by  actual  records  that  the  proportion  of  new  or  recent 
cases  occurring  in  this  State  during  the  past  year  bears  about 
the  same  relation  to  the  total  population  as  did  the  number 
of  new  cases  to  the  population  twenty  years  ago.  The  ap- 
parent increase  is  developed  by  the  generosity  of  the  State 
in  providing  for  five  hundred  of  its  wards,  who  were  then 
scattered  about  the  State  in  numerous  almshouses.  There 
has  been  a steadily  increasing  tendency  on  the  part  of  public 
officials  and  the  friends  of  the  insane  to  place  them  under 
hospital  treatment.  Of  the  numerous  cases  classed  under 
the  heads  of  chronic  melancholia,  epilepsy,  histero-epilepsy, 
and  imbecility,  now  sent  to  hospitals,  not  one  in  ten  was  thus 
provided  for  twenty  years  ago.  All  of  these  facts  should  be 
remembered  when  considering  the  question  of  apparent 
increase. 

How  to  properly  provide  for  this  large  dependent  class  is 
a question  of  greatest  moment.  Differences  of  opinion  exist 
among  experienced  alienists.  Many  still  maintain  that  ex- 
pensive hospitals  should  be  erected  to  accommodate  all,  irre- 
spective of  class  or  condition.  Without  attempting  to  dis- 
cuss this  question  at  length,  I would  suggest  that  extreme 
views  are  generally  untenable,  and  that  a solution  of  the 
problem  may  be  found  in  following  a medium  course. 

Such  a plan  is  being  pursued  in  New  York  state,  at  Ovid. 
The  success  of  the  experiment  at  the  Willard  asylum,  of 
erecting  plain  but  substantial  supplemental  buildings  on  the 
grounds  near  to  the  main  asylum,  led  the  commissioners  in 
this  State  to  recommend  a similar  plan,  which  is  now  being 
carried  out.  At  a short  distance  from  the  central  hospital 
there  is  being  erected  a group  of  brick  buildings  in  which 
provision  will  be  made  for  262  of  the  more  quiet  chronic  pa- 
tients, who  require  little  medical  attention.  In  general,  the 
plan  contemplates  receiving  and  treating  all  acute  and  all 
turbulent  cases  in  the  hospital  proper ; from  time  to  time  the 
quiet  chronic  patients  will  be  transferred  to  the  new  build- 
ings, where  good  custodial  care  can  be  maintained  at  less 


293 


expense.  The  plan  has  worked  so  well  at  Willard,  that  it 
seems  to  be  the  best  solution  yet  proposed  of  this  most 
troublesome  problem. 

To  facilitate  the  early  reception  of  some  of  those  patients 
who  were  waiting,  we  have  recently  remodeled  and  furnished 
a farm  house,  situated  one-half  mile  to  the  rear  of  the  hospi- 
tal, which  affords  good  accommodations  for  twenty  quiet 
female  patients.  This  makes  the  third  “ cottage  ” in  use. 
Two  have  served  a good  purpose  during  the  past  ten  years. 
All  of  these  are  plain  farm  houses,  heated  by  stoves,  and 
lighted  by  ordinary  lamps.  The  doors  are  unlocked , and 
windows  unguarded , except  by  the  ordinary  green  blinds, 
which  were  on  the  houses  when  used  by  sane  families. 

I mention  this  merely  as  a matter  of  record,  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  so  much  is  being  said  about  the  “ uselessness  of 
bars  and  bolts.”  We  have  for  ten  years  treated  insane 
patients  in  two  “ open  ” cottages.  To  reason  from  this  that 
all  patients  could  be  thus  cared  for  would  be  illogical.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  these  patients  are  selected  from 
five  hundred,  on  account  of  their  quiet,  harmless  condition. 

If  all  deranged  persons  were  of  this  class,  and  had  homes, 
the  State  would  not  be  called  upon  to  provide  for  them.  Un- 
fortunately, a majority  of  insane  persons  are  more  or  less 
turbulent  and  unmanageable  at  home ; hence  they  require 
the  restriction  of  liberty  which  a hospital  affords.  Their 
own  welfare  demands  it  no  less  than  the  claims  of  society. 
The  wise  provision  which  is  here  made  for  their  security 
permits  a much  larger  amount  of  personal  liberty  than 
could  possibly  be  allowed  at  home. 

In  this  connection  I may  be  pardoned  for  repeating  a fact, 
which  has  been  referred  to  in  former  reports,  that  mechan- 
ical restraint  is  used  at  this  institution  only  by  direction  of 
the  physician,  to  prevent  serious  accidents. 

A record  of  the  name,  cause,  and  duration  is  carefully 
kept.  This  record  shows  that  less  than  one  per  cent,  are  in 
any  way  restrained  or  secluded.  Periods  of  several  weeks 
pass  without  the  necessity  for  using  any  restraining  appar- 


294 


atus,  and  then,  perhaps,  we  will  have  a half  dozen  patients 
all  at  one  time  who  require  it. 

Under  authority  of  the  finance  committee,  I have  taken 
the  Silver  Mine  farm  for  a period  of  five  years,  at  $100  per 
year,  and  am  now  furnishing  the  large  boarding-house  to 
receive  thirty  quiet  males.  This,  with  the  farm-house  and 
the  two  cottages,  will  make  four  “ cottages,”  in  which  we 
can  treat  seventy-eight  quiet  patients.  The  land  at  the 
Silver  Mine  farm  is  valuable  only  as  additional  pasturage. 

Since  your  last  annual  meeting,  the  annex  has  been 
devoted  to  the  object  for  which  it  was  prepared  : namely,  to 
provide  for  the  insane  convicts  and  the  criminal  insane.  It 
has  twenty-four  single  rooms,  two  day  rooms,  a dining-room, 
three  bath-rooms,  closets,  and  the  necessary  store-rooms.  It 
is  situated  250  feet  to  the  rear  of  the  main  hospital ; is 
heated  by  steam  and  lighted  by  gas.  Three  attendants  are 
always  in  charge.  Since  last  March  eleven  male  convicts 
have  been  transferred  from  the  Wethersfield  prison.  Nearly 
all  of  these  have  been  kept  at  work  about  the  grounds  during 
the  summer  months.  Two,  whose  terms  of  sentence  had 
expired,  have  recovered,  and  another  one  has  been  returned 
to  the  prison  as  “ not  insane.” 

In  my  last  annual  report  I mentioned  the  completion  of 
an  additional  reservoir,  covering  two  and  one-half  acres. 
The  severe  drought  of  the  past  summer  and  the  use  of  a 
large  amount  of  water  in  the  erection  of  the  new  hospital 
has  tested  the  supply  and  shown  the  wisdom  of  having  an 
additional  reservoir.  Without  it  we  should  have  exhausted 
the  main  reservoir.  With  it  we  were  able  to  use  water 
everywhere  freely  and  continuously. 

While  on  this  subject,  permit  me  to  again  direct  your 
attention  to  the  importance  of  having  greater  facilities  for 
extinguishing  fire  by  means  of  outdoor  hydrants.  Your 
building  is  well  planned  and  protected  so  far  as  the  internal 
arrangements  are  concerned ; brick  walls  extend  from  foun- 
dation to  roof,  in  the  corridors,  halls,  stairways,  and  rooms ; 
all  ventilating  flues  are  carried  in  brick  out  of  the  roof 


295 


as  separate  chimneys ; floors  are  everywhere  deafened  by 
two  inches  of  mortar ; iron  doors  separate  the  wards  ; one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  of  water  hose  is  ready  for  use  in  every 
ward,  and  nearly  two  hundred  pails  of  water  stand  ready  on 
all  landings  and  space-ways  ; several  fire  extinguishers  are 
placed  at  convenient  points  about  the  building.  But  the 
recent  terrible  catastrophe  at  the  Minnesota  Hospital  for  the 
Insane,  in  which  many  lives  were  lost,  shows  the  importance 
of  having  ample  provision  made  for  outside  protection. 

A line  of  six-inch  water-pipe  should  extend  around  the 
hospital,  with  at  least  twenty-four  hydrants  placed  at  equi- 
distant points. 

As  the  water  supply  is  abundant,  it  would  only  be  neces- 
sary to  connect  the  new  reservoir  with  the  main  water-pipe 
at  the  old,  to  give  at  all  times  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
head.  This  pressure  would  throw  several  streams  of  water 
over  the  highest  point  of  the  center  building.  The  estimated 
expense  for  pipe,  hydrants,  and  hose  is  $2,150. 

You  have  wisely  maintained  insurance  on  the  hospital 
buildings  to  the  amount  of  about  $200,000.  This  involves  an 
annual  expense  of  $500,  which  has  thus  far  been  paid  out  of 
current  receipts.  As  the  institution  receives  no  income 
other  than  that  derived  from  the  board  of  patients,  should 
so  large  an  amount  be  diverted  for  insurance  ? Should  not 
the  subject  be  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  have  it  definitely  decided  whether  the  State 
will  insure  its  own  buildings  or  continue  the  present  system? 

Improvements. — - When  it  was  decided  to  locate  the  new 
hospital  on  the  grounds  south  of  the  present  buildings,  it 
became  necessary  to  remove  the  fruit  trees  and  shrubbery  to 
a new  garden  spot.  This  w^ork,  involving  some  expense, 
was  done  mainly  by  the  labor  of  convalescent  and  quiet 
chronic  patients. 

Early  in  the  season  a new  arbor  was  erected  on  the  lawn 
near  the  north  highway,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  female 
patients.  It  is  built  of  cedar,  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
in  length,  twenty-four  feet  in  width,  separated  into  nine  sec" 


296 


tions,  with  seats  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons.  At  the 
west  end  is  an  elevated  band-stand,  and  near  at  hand  four 
large  self-acting  wooden  swings.  Here  many  of  our  patients 
have  passed  the  summer  evenings  pleasantly,  while  listening 
to  the  hospital  band. 

Improvements  in  grading,  laying  of  walks,  and  road-build- 
ing have  continued.  A large  permanent  horse-barn  was 
erected.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  plan  heretofore  pur- 
sued of  maintaining  the  hospital  in  a healthy  state  of  repair, 
together  with  needed  improvements,  has  been  continued 
during  the  past  year. 

In  view  of  the  increase  of  numbers  by  at  least  two  hundred 
and  fifty  patients  in  the  new  hospital,  it  will  become  neces- 
sary to  add  twenty  five  cows  to  the  live  stock  and  to  erect 
another  farm-barn  for  their  protection.  This  will  necessitate 
an  appropriation  of  $8,000. 

Year  by  year  we  are  able  to  employ  more  inmates  on  the 
farm  and  about  the  domestic  labors  of  the  house.  The  daily 
ward  reports  show  that  sixty  per  cent,  of  all  are  employed 
during  the  summer,  and  forty-five  per  cent,  during  the 
winter.  The  farmer’s  report,  herewith  presented,  shows  a 
steady  increase  of  annual  products  as  one  of  the  results,  and 
the  quietness  of  the  wards  and  general  good  health  of  the 
patients  another  and  more  important  outgrowth  of  employ- 
ment. The  erection  of  a few  large,  plain  shops  would  en- 
able us  to  continue  through  the  winter  the  employment  of 
many  who  are  now  idle.  For  this  purpose  an  appropriation 
of  $2,000  could  be  profitably  invested. 

During  the  autumn  months,  under  your  instruction,  I have 
had  erected  a new  laundry  building  of  sufficient  dimen- 
sions to  provide  for  the  largely  increased  laundry  work.  It 
will  be  necessary  to  purchase  four  new  washing-machines, 
pulleys,  belts,  shafting,  and  fixtures,  at  an  expense  of  $2,000. 
When  these  are  in  place,  work  can  go  on  in  the  new  laundry 
while  the  old  apparatus  is  being  moved.  The  extent  and 
importance  of  this  branch  of  work  is  understood  when  it  is 
remembered  that  the  average  number  of  garments  passing 


297 


through  the  laundry  weekly  is  now  10,000,  and  will  increase 
to  15,000  when  the  new  hospital  is  in  full  operation.  Valu- 
able assistance  is  rendered  by  thirty  patients  in  washing, 
ironing,  and  handling. 

Following  the  custom  of  former  years,  we  have  continued 
and  extended  the  methods  employed  to  entertain  our  patients. 
During  the  summer  the  hospital  brass  band  played  every 
pleasant  morning  at  the  south  arbor,  while  such  of  the  male 
patients  as  were  judged  incompetent,  by  reason  of  disease, 
age,  or  circumstances,  to  labor,  were  being  exercised  in  mili- 
tary evolutions,  or  were  quietly  enjoying  themselves  in 
the  shade  of  the  arbor.  Thus  it  would  often  happen  that 
the  wards  were  deserted,  not  a male  patient  remaining  in 
the  building  for  hours  in  succession.  When  you  remember 
that  those  who  labored  were  often  at  work  one  mile  distant 
from  the  house,  and  the  others  about  the  grounds  with  open 
gates,  it  may  seem  strange  that  only  one  patient  eloped. 
There  were  occasional  attempts ; but  these  attempts  were 
less  frequent  than  in  former  years  when  we  made  use  of  the 
inclosed  airing-courts.  When  the  weather  permitted,  on 
every  Tuesday  and  Friday  evenings,  the  band  has  given  an 
outdoor  concert  at  the  ladies’  arbor.  Other  entertainments 
were  provided  in  the  amusement  hall  and  in, the  chapel  during 
the  winter  season,  as  follows  : 


Sociable,  with  music  and  dancing,  ...  13  evenings 

Masquerade  Party,  . . . . . 1 “ 

Lectures  with  Stereopticon,  . . . . 12  “ 

Variety  Entertainment, — Hospital  Troupe,  . . 1 “ 

Comedy  and  Farces, — Hospital  Troupe,  . . . 2 “ 

Minstrels, — Hospital  Troupe,  . . . . 1 “ 

Old  Folks’  Concert,  . . . . . 1 “ 

Dickens  Party,  . . . . . . 1 “ 

Legerdemain, — E.  A.  Parsons,  ....  1 “ 

Lectures, — Trip  to  Lake  Superior.  Prof.  W.  O.  Atwater,  1 “ 

London.  Prof.  Winchester,  . . 1 “ 

California.  D.  W.  C.  Skilton,  . . 1 

St.  Patrick.  Rev.  Dr.  Coit,  . . 1 “ 

England.  Rev.  J.  S Bayne,  . . 1 

Egypt.  Rev.  C.  A.  Buck,  ...  1 


298 


Minstrels, — Hartford  Retreat  Troupe, 

1 evenings 

Readings, — D.  G.  Lawson,  .... 

3 

Miss  Georgia  Cayvan, 

1 

Miss  Annie  C.  Walter, 

1 

Legerdemain, — Prof.  Pray,  .... 

Concert, — Misses  Spencer  and  Wilcox,  Mr.  Pearne  and 

1 

Mr.  Hatch,  ..... 

1 

Band  Concerts,  ...... 

32 

On  Saturday,  August  21st,  300  patients,  officers,  and  at- 
tendants enjoyed  an  excursion  to  the  seashore.  The  trip 
down  the  river  was  made  in  a large  barge,  fitted  for  the  oc- 
casion with  awning  over  the  entire  deck  and  seats  to  accom- 
modate all.  A steam  tug  furnished  the  motive  power.  A 
pleasant  sail  of  three  hours  to  Fenwick  grove,  at  Saybrook, 
gave  us  all  good  appetites  for  the  “ seashore”  dinner  which 
had  been  provided.  Another  hour  was  spent  in  dancing  and 
swinging  before  embarking  for  home.  The  return  trip  up 
the  river  by  moonlight  was  greatly  enjoyed,  notwithstanding 
the  warm  showers  which  occasionally  passed  over  the  river. 
The  hospital  band  furnished  music  for  the  entire  day. 

Nothing  occurred  to  mar  the  pleasures  of  the  occasion.  At 
11  o’clock  all  were  quietly  sleeping  in  their  little  beds,  and 
for  the  third  time  an  excursion  unique  in  character,  hereto- 
fore considered  impracticable,  had  terminated  without  cause 
for  alarm  and  with  only  recollections  of  a most  enjoyable 
summer’s  day.  Other  excursions  of  walking  parties  wrere 
made  to  the  neighboring  hills,  and  at  all  times  a number  of 
patients  have  had  unlimited  parole  to  go  to  the  city  and 
about  the  country. 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT. 

For  the  information  of  the  public  it  is  proper  that  I should 
make  a brief  statement  respecting  the  manner  in  which  the 
hospital  is  supported.  Many  persons  suppose  that  we  can 
draw  from  the  treasury  because  the  hospital  is  owned  and 
controlled  by  the  State.  This  erroneous  impression  causes 
us  embarrassment  in  the  collection  of  bills.  It  should  be 
understood  that  the  hospital  has  no  other  income  than  that 


299 


derived  from  the  board  of  patients.  It  has  not  in  its  thirteen 
years’  existence  received  an  appropriation  for  running  ex- 
penses, repairs,  or  improvements.  But  at  the  present  price 
of  board  ($4  per  week)  and  cost  of  provisions  it  is  only  pos- 
sible to  keep  our  patients  well  and  make  the  necessary 
repairs.  Needed  improvements  heretofore  mentioned  must 
be  provided  for  by  an  appropriation.  The  total  revenue 
during  the  past  year  was  1114,438.94.  The  total  expendi- 
tures were  $114,155.75.  This  includes  $4,789.96  for  the 
construction  of  new  buildings.  The  abstract  on  pages  40-41 
gives  a classified  list  of  all  expenditures. 

To  recapitulate,  we  need  an  appropriation  of  $10,000,  as 
follows : 


For  protection  from  fire,  . 

$3,000 

Twenty-five  cows  and  farm  barn, 

3,000 

Workshops, 

2,000 

Laundry  apparatus,  ..... 

2,000 

Total, 

. $10,000 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

As  in  former  years,  many  friends  have  shown  an  interest 
in  our  work  by  donating  books,  magazines,  and  papers  and 
by  assistance  in  our  entertainments.  Among  these  were  the 
choir  and  young  people  of  the  South  Congregational  church 
of  Middletown  in  an  “ Old  Polk’s  Concert”  and  a “Dickens 
Party  ” ; Prof.  W.  O.  Atwater  in  a lecture  ; Prof.  Winchester 
in  a lecture ; the  officers  and  attendants  of  the  Hartford  Re- 
treat  in  a vocal  and  instrumental  concert ; D.  W.  C.  Skilton 
in  a lecture  ; Dr.  Coit,  Rev.  J.  S.  Bayne,  and  Rev.  C.  H. 
Buck  in  lectures ; the  Misses  Spencer  and  Wilcox  and  Messrs. 
Pearne  and  Hatch  in  a concert  ; Dr.  Alsop  in  a canon  of 
historical  interest,  twelve  volumes  LittelVs  Living  Age  and 
other  magazines;  Mrs.  E.  B.  Monroe  in  several  packages 
of  books  and  magazines;  Mrs.  Ward  in  a carriage;  A.  R. 
Parshley  in  a dozen  Brahma  hens’  eggs ; Senator  Platt  in 
one  volume  “ Medical  and  Surgical  History  of  the  War”; 
L.  R.  Hazen  in  papers,  magazines,  etc.;  Miss  C.  Waite  in  a 


300 


Worcester’s  Dictionary;  Charles  Scribner’s  Sons  in  half  dis- 
count on  Encyclopaedia  Britannica;  Herbert  W.  Ward  in  a 
night-blooming  cactus;  Capt.  C.  F.  Buell  in  a collection  of 
shells;  S.  C.  Hastings  subscription  to  Q-ood  Literature ; and 
to  the  publishers  of  the  State  papers  for  gratuitous  copies. 

PERSONAL  CHANGES. 

In  May  last  Mr.  Frank  B.  Weeks  resigned  the  position  of 
clerk,  which  he  had  faithfully  and  creditably  filled  for  a pe- 
riod of  eight  years,  to  engage  in  private  business. 

A simple  record  of  his  labors  shows  an  amount  of  work 
performed  and  an  exactness  and  perfectness  of  details  in  the 
record  books  that  reflects  great  credit  and  shows  rare  quali- 
fications for  the  office. 

The  strictly  professional  administration  remains  the  same 
as  during  the  past  three  years.  All  of  the  officers  deserve 
honorable  mention  and  recognition  in  their  several  positions 
for  their  fidelity  and  efficiency. 

In  conclusion,  accept  an  expression  of  my  gratitude  for 
your  wise  counsels  and  valuable  aid  in  the  management  of 
the  public  charity  intrusted  to  our  common  care. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

A.  MARVIN  SHEW,  M.D., 

Superintendent . 

Middletown,  Conn.,  December  1,  1880. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEE?. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut : 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  Insane 
present  to  the  legislature  their  sixteenth  annual  report. 

On  no  previous  occasion  of  doing  so,  has  there  been  a feel- 
ing of  deeper  and  more  grateful  satisfaction  than  at  this 
time.  There  has  been  no  epidemic,  the  deaths  have  been 
under  average,  and  for  the  most  part  have  been  of  the  aged 
and  chronic  patients.  It  is  known  to  your  honorable  body 
that  in  July  last,  the  additional  hospital  buildings,  soutli  of 
what  may  now  be  called  the  u old  hospital,”  were  completed 
and  delivered  by  the  construction  commission  of  the  legis- 
lature into  the  hands  of  this  board,  and  that  the  occasion 
was  availed  of  to  suitably  celebrate  the  15th  anniversary  of 
this  institution. 

Sad  as  it  may  be  in  one  view  of  the  case,  that  there 
existed  in  the  State  insane  persons  scattered  here  and  there, 
waiting  for  the  shelter  of  these  additional  public  buildings,  it 
must,  in  another  view,  be  a source  of  sincere  gratification  to 
the  people  of  the  State,  that  through  their  representatives  in 
the  General  Assembly,  good  and  permanent  provision  has 
been  liberally  made  for  the  waiting  insane  by  well  con- 
structed accommodations  suited  to  their  needs. 

The  equipments  of  your  hospital  are  now  in  a nearly  com- 
plete condition.  The  experience  of  fifteen  years  has  not  been 
an  unproductive  one.  The  laundry,  kitchen,  bakery,  and 
heating  arrangements  are  admitted  by  experts  to  be  most 
convenient  and  excellent.  When  one  realizes  that  daily  over 
900  people  must  have  regular  meals  and  that  the  “ weekly 
wash  ” is  of  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  pieces,  it  will  be  appre- 
ciated how  needful  are  good,  convenient,  and  “ time-saving  ” 
appliances  for  so  much  real  work. 


802 


The  high  commendations  of  the  venerable  Dr.  Earle  of 
Northampton  hospital,  in  his  remarks  at  the  memorial  gather- 
ing in  July,  will  be  remembered  by  all  who  heard  him  speak 
of  Connecticut’s  advance  in  practical  philanthropy,  as  shown 
in  this  institution. 

No  grave  and  expensive  mistakes  have  been  made,  either 
in  the  construction  or  administration  of  this  State  hospital. 
What  has  been  done  reflects  praise  of  your  superintendent, 
Dr.  Shew,  who,  since  its  inception  in  1866,  has  been  its 
efficient  executive  head. 

To  his  report  you  are  referred  for  details  of  the  patient- 
population,  of  the  expenditure  of  the  legislative  appropri- 
ation, and  of  the  special  care  and  labor  required  for  the 
preparation  of  rooms  for  the  occupation  by  262  patients  of 
the  new  buildings. 

The  long-continued,  unusual  drouth  tried  our  water  supply 
as  never  before,  and  we  have  taken  steps  towards  securing  a 
fuller  supply  in  the  future  for  our  increased  number  of 
patients. 

The  officers  of  the  institution  have  been  faithful  and 
active  in  their  duties. 

The  treasurer’s  report  is  printed  with  these. 

The  marked  rise  of  provisions  has  for  the  latter  portion  of 
the  year  materially  increased  the  expenses  of  maintaining  the 
large  family  under  our  care. 

It  is  our  duty  to  inform  the  legislature  that  the  south 
wing  of  the  new  building  reaches  so  very  near  the  limits  of 
the  land  owned  by  the  State,  that  there  is  not  space  enough 
even  for  a drive-way  between  it  and  the  fence  of  the  adjoin- 
ing land.  The  owner  of  this  small  adjoining  tract  has  a good 
house  on  it  with  out-buildings,  and  has  offered  it  to  the 
State  for  $6,500.00,  and  has  consented  to  keep  the  offer  open 
for  the  action  of  the  legislature.  The  land  is  good  garden 
land,  and  could  be  made  with  the  house  very  useful.  Pre‘ 
vious  to  the  erection  of  the  new  building  it  was  not  thought 
absolutely  necessary,  although  very  desirable,  that  the  State 
should  own  it.  It  is  not  likely  ever  to  be  acquired  again  at  so 


303 


low  a price.  Members  of  other  boards  of  the  State  have  urged 
us  to  make  formal  application  to  your  honorable  body  for  the 
$6,500.00,  for  this  important  purchase.  We  respectfully  ask 
the  committee  on  humane  institutions  to  visit  at  an  early 
moment  your  hospital,  and  to  give  this  matter  the  considera- 
tion it  deserves. 

The  terms  of  office  of  the  members  from  New  London  and 
Windham  counties  expire  with  this  year.  Their  re-appoint- 
ment is  much  to  be  desired,  and  is  herewith  requested. 

We  are  grateful  to  God  that  His  benign  blessing  has 
rested  on  this  State  work  under  our  supervision. 

Respectively  submitted, 

HOBART  B.  BIGELOW,  New  Haven. 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD,  Colchester. 
RICHMOND  M.  BULLOCK,  Putnam. 

R.  S.  EELLOWES, 

HENRY  WOODWARD, 

ROBBINS  BATTELL, 

JAMES  G.  GREGORY, 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 

LUCIUS  S.  EULLER, 

BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 

ELISHA  B.  NYE, 

J.  W.  ALSOP, 


New  Haven. 
Middletown. 
Norfolk. 
Norwalk. 
Windsor. 
Tolland. 
Middletown. 
Middletown. 
Middletown. 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  Insane : 

Gentlemen,  — In  compliance  with  custom  and  legal  re- 
quirement, I herewith  present  a record  of  the  most  important 
events  in  the  history  of  this  hospital  for  the  year  ending 
November  30,  1881. 

The  special  details  relating  to  the  admission  and  discharge 
of  patients  and  of  the  expense  of  maintenance,  are  shown  in 
the  accompanying  tables.  Some  notion  of  the  labor,  anxiety, 
and  care  incident  to  this  period  will  be  suggested  by  the 
facts  that  the  admissions  were  about  equal  in  number  to  the 
total  in  any  previous  two  years,  that  the  regularity  and 
usual  order  was  disturbed  by  the  removal  of  250  chronic 
patients  to  the  new  hospital  and  the  admission  of  an  equal 
number  of  new  cases  to  the  old  ; and  that  a larger  proportion 
of  these  were  acutely  insane,  with  suicidal  and  destructive 
propensities,  requiring  constant  and  untiring  vigilance.  We 
have  reason  to  be  grateful  to  God  for  the  general  good  health 
which  has  prevailed.  A few  mild  cases  of  rubeola  occurred 
in  the  month  of  April,  showing  that  the  atmospheric  causes 
prevailed  here  as  in  the  surrounding  country.  Whether 
considered  in  relation  to  the  number  of  persons  under  treat- 
ment, to  the  result  attained,  or  to  the  improved  facilities 
afforded,  this  report  covers  the  most  important  year  in  the 
history  of  this  institution.  There  were  at  its  commence- 
ment, 529  patients  ; 352  new  cases  were  received,  making  a 
total  of  881  under  treatment  during  the  year.  The  average 
number  present  was  608.51,  but  the  number  remaining  at  the 
end  of  the  year  is  731.*  The  following  table  exhibits  in  a 
condensed  form  the  movement  of  the  population  : 

*At  the  date  of  publication  of  this  note,  Jan.  1,  1882,  there  are  750 
patients  in  the  hospital. 


305 


Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

No.  at  beginning  of  year, 

251 

278 

529 

Admitted  in  the  year,  .... 

193 

159 

352 

Total  present  in  the  year, 

444 

437 

881 

Discharged — Recovered,  ... 

33 

20 

53 

Improved, 

16 

4 

20 

Stationary,  - - - 

28 

5 

33 

Died,  - 

32 

12 

44 

Remaining  at  end  of  year, 

335 

396 

731 

Average  per  cent,  during  year, 

293. 17 

315.39 

608.  51 

To  prevent  any  misunderstanding  of  the  tables,  it  should 
be  remembered  that  the  name  of  a patient  is  only  entered  on 
our  records  once  in  any  one  year.  That  is,  every  admission 
represents  a person.  For  instance,  352  different  persons  were 
received  during  the  year;  88  of  these  had  been  admitted  and 
discharged  in  previous  years,  and  46  were  transferred  from 
other  hospitals  as  shown  by  the  following  table: 


ADMISSIONS. 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

Number  of  first  admissions,  - 

121 

97 

218 

Number  of  second  admissions, 

36 

29 

65 

Number  of  third  admissions,  - 

9 

5 

14 

Number  of  fourth  admissions, 

5 

2 

7 

Number  of  fifth  admissions,  - 

2 

— 

2 

Transferred  from  other  hospitals,  - 

20 

' 26 

46 

Total, 

193 

159 

352 

Referring  to  the  accompanying  tables,  No.  II  is  interesting 
as  showing  that  458  patients  have  been  restored  to  health  at 
this  hospital,  and  that  389  others  were  discharged  so  much 
improved  as  to  be  able  to  assume  cares  and  ordinary  respon- 
sibilities. It  also  shows  the  steadily  increasing  average 
number  under  treatment  each  year  from  85  in  1868  to  608  in 
1881.  Tables  No.  Ill  and  IY  go  to  show  that  insanity  is  a 
disease  of  middle  life,  when  the  mind  and  body  are  most 
actively  engaged  in  the  struggle  for  an  existence,  or  in  the 
gratification  of  morbid  propensities.  Of  352  patients  ad- 
20 


306 


mitted  in  the  year,  263  were  between  the  ages  of  20  and  60. 
Of  2,333  patients  admitted  since  the  hospital  was  established, 
1,838  were  included  within  the  same  period  of  life.  Table  Y 
gives  the  nativity  of  2,333  patients.  Of  this  whole  number, 
1,495  were  natives  of  America  and  838  of  foreign  countries. 
Conclusions  drawn  from  the  relative  civil  condition  as  shown 
in  table  8 are  of  no  special  value,  but  the  fact  is  stated  for 
what  it  is  worth.  1,101  patients  were  single,  959  were  mar- 
ried, and  216  were  widowed.  We  are  unable  to  determine 
the  civil  condition  of  57  persons  who  were  sent  to  the  hospital 
without  histories  or  friends.  Table  IX  is  of  more  value  as 
showing  how  and  by  whom  patients  are  committed  to  this 
institution.  Of  2,333,  one  was  admitted  by  order  of  the 
General  Assembly;  50  by  order  of  justice  or  police  courts; 
74  by  judges  of  the  superior  courts;  1,975  by  probate  courts; 
45  by  governor’s  orders,  and  188  by  the  legal  guardians  or 
relatives.  The  question,  “ How  are  patients  supported?”  is 
answered  by  table  X.  Of  the  whole  number  received,  188 
were  self-supporting;  704  were  “ indigents ” (expenses  paid 
by  the  State  and  friends);  1,328  were  “ paupers”  (supported 
by  State  and  towns);  113  by  the  State  alone.  Of  these 
various  classes  there  are  at  this  date,  14  supported  by  friends, 
198  supported  by  State  and  friends  (indigents),  473  supported 
by  State  and  towns  (paupers),  and  46  supported  by  the  State 
alone.  I have  already  stated  that  patients  have  been 
promptly  admitted  since  the  opening  of  the  new  hospital  in 
July.  As  a result,  a larger  proportion  of  acute  cases  have 
been  received ; but  a careful  study  of  table  XI  shows  the 
unfavorable  character  of  about  three-quarters  of  all  admis- 
sions in  the  year.  In  other  words,  the  disease  was  of  such  a 
form  from  the  start,  or  had  progressed  so  far  before  admission 
that  all  hope  of  cure  had  to  be  abandoned.  Of  the  352 
admissions,  111  were  of  chronic  mania;  20  of  epileptic 
mania;  27  of  chronic  melancholia;  7 of  general  paresis;  27 
of  chronic  dementia  ; 10  of  senile  dementia,  and  66  of  imbe- 
cility; making  a total  of  208  who  will  probably  require 
public  care  during  the  remainder  of  life.  This  discouraging 


307 


fact  is  confirmed  in  table  XIV,  where  it  appears  that  in  218 
of  the  352  admissions,  the  disease  had  existed  more  than  one 
year  before  admission.  And  again,  in  table  XYI,  it  is  shown 
that  of  the  458  recoveries  since  the  hospital  was  opened,  only 
65  occurred  in  cases  where  the  disease  had  existed  one  year 
before  admission.  If  the  relatives  or  public  guardians  of 
insane  persons  only  realized  the  importance  of  early  treat- 
ment away  from  home  and  the  exciting  causes,  they  would,  I 
am  sure,  no  longer  neglect  taking  the  necessary  steps  to 
insure  early  and  efficient  hospital  treatment.  The  advan- 
tages of  this  policy  are  again  made  evident  in  tables  XYII 
and  XYIII.  It  is  here  shown  that  the  duration  of  treatment 
(in  hospital)  of  the  458  patients  who  have  recovered  was  less 
than  one  year  in  395  cases ; and  in  335  of  this  number  the 
whole  duration  of  the  disease  was  less  than  one  year.  Addi- 
tional proof,  if  needed,  may  be  found  in  table  XIX,  which 
gives  the  special  form  of  disease  in  those  who  recovered.  384 
were  cured  where  the  disease  was  acute,  and  only  74  where  it 
had  become  chronic.  This  table  also  shows  the  relative  cura- 
bility of  special  forms  of  insanity. 

The  student  of  sociology  may  deduce  some  suggestive  facts 
from  tables  XX  and  XXYII,  where  the  alleged  exciting 
causes  of  insanity  are  tabulated.  These  deductions  should  be 
received  with  some  reservation,  as  the  assigned  causes  are 
often  found  by  us  to  be  only  incidents  or  symptoms  in  the 
formative  stage  of  the  disease.  I believe,  however,  that  these 
tables  truthfully  show  that  “anxiety  of  mind,”  “ill-health,” 
and  “intemperance,”  are  the  factors  most  potential  in  pro- 
ducing mental  disturbance. 

Of  the  44  deaths  during  the  past  twelve  months,  the  average 
age  was  51.15  years.  The  following  table  shows  all  of  the 
deaths  and  their  ratios  since  the  hospital  was  opened  in  1868. 


308 


Deaths  and  tiieir  Ratios,  from  May  1, 1868,  to  Nov.  80, 1881. 


Official  Year. 

Whole  Number  of 
Patients. 

Daily  Average  No. 
of  Patients. 

DEATHS. 

Per  cent,  on  whole 
No.  of  Patients. 

Per  cent,  on  Daily 
Average 
No.  of  Patients. 

Men. 

Women. 

Total. 

1868-69 

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17.57 

1869-70 

343 

225.17 

18 

3 

21 

6.12 

9.32 

1870-71 

307 

237. 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-73 

336 

264  53 

12 

9 

21 

6 25 

7.86 

1873-74 

524 

239.51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75 

605 

425.80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76 

616 

452.64 

26 

7 

33 

5.35 

7.31 

1876,  8 mos. 

548 

456.97 

9 

6 

15 

2 72 

3.28 

Dec.  1,  1876 

Nov.  30,  ’77 

619 

463.88 

19 

12 

31 

5.01 

6.69 

1877-78 

629 

474  17 

27 

13 

40 

6.36 

8.43 

1878-79 

644 

498.34 

9 

10 

19 

2.95 

3 81 

1879-80 

654 

514.63 

16 

14 

30 

4.58 

5.82 

1880-81 

881 

608.51 

32 

12 

44 

5.00 

7.24 

Tables  XXI  and  XXII  give  all  of  the  known  facts  respect- 
ing the  fatal  terminations  of  376  cases  and  the  ages  at  which 
death  occurred.  From  these  it  appears  that  the  disease  has 
not  noticeably  shortened  the  period  of  life.  Three  had 
survived  90  years;  fifteen  had  passed  80;  forty-nine  had 
exceeded  three  score  years  and  ten;  one  hundred  and  twenty 
had  passed  beyond  60 ; and  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  or 
about  one-half  the  whole  number  died  between  the  ages  50 
and  91. 

Referring  again  to  table  XXII,  you  observe  that  pulmonary 
consumption  is  the  most  active  cause  of  death  among  the 
insane.  Next  to  this,  old  age,  general  paresis,  acute  mania, 
apoplexy  and  epilepsy  stand  in  regular  order.  These  six 
potential  agencies  embrace  a total  which  outnumbers  all 
others  combined.  The  death  rate  at  the  institution  has 
always  been  below  the  average,  when  compared  with  similar 
institutions  in  this  and  other  countries.  I attribute  this  to 
the  favorable  location,  to  the  complete  system  of  sewerage 


309 


and  ventilation  and  to  an  abundant  supply  of  pure  spring 
water.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  the  ratio  of  deaths  must 
gradually  increase  so  long  as  the  hospital  provides  for  chronic 
cases  during  life.  This  fact  is  made  evident  by  a study  of 
table  XXIV,  where  it  appears  that  there  are  at  this  date  ten 
patients  between  80  and  90;  twenty-six  others  between  TO 
and  80;  sixty-eiglit  others  between  60  and  TO;  and  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  between  50  and  60  years  of  age;  thus 
making  a total  of  222  chronic  patients  remaining  in  the 
institution  between  the  ages  of  50  and  90.  It  has  already' 
been  shown,  by  our  tables,  that  the  average  age  at  death 
among  the  insane  is  50.51  years  ; with  these  plain  facts  before 
us,  you  will  hardly  be  surprised  by  a perceptible  increase  of 
the  death  rate  in  the  immediate  future,  and  will  be  ready  to 
attribute  it  to  the  natural  and  legitimate  cause.  It  may  be 
pardonable  to  allude  to  the  case  of  a bright  Christian  lady 
who,  at  the  age  of  91,  sits  from  day  to  day  in  her  pleasant 
room  busily  engaged  in  making  “ holders,”  and  able  to  readily 
thread  her  needle  without  the  aid  of  glasses.  Our  faith  in 
the  longevity  of  the  insane  is  perceptibly  increased  while  we 
study  the  next  table,  Xo.  XXV.  Here  it  is  shown  that  of  the 
T31  patients  remaining  at  the  end  of  the  year,  504  have  been 
insane  from  three  to  fifty  years,  and  at  least  eight  of  this 
number  have  survived  mental  derangement  more  than  forty 
years.  The  good  care  which  is  insured  to  the  insane,  in  our 
public  institutions  at  the  present  day,  has  without  doubt  been 
an  important  factor  in  prolonging  the  lives  of  this  dependent 
class.  The  preceding  facts  have  doubtless  prepared  you  to 
accept  the  discouraging  statement  made  in  table  XXVI, 
where  it  appears  that  of  T31  patients  remaining  at  this  date, 
only  45  are  considered  curable  cases.  This  outlook  would 
indeed  be  discouraging  had  you  not  already  been  taught 
uthe  insane  are  the  wards  of  the  State,”  and  that  a public 
institution  is  fulfilling  its  philanthropic  mission  as  truly  in 
protecting  and  providing  a home  for  the  chronic  insane,  as 
in  restoring  to  health  the  few  curable  cases  that  find  their 
way  to  the  institution. 


310 


IMPROVEMENTS. 

In  response  to  your  last  annual  report  the  General  Assem- 
bly made  an  appropriation  of  ten  thousand  dollars  ($10,000) 
for  four  special  purposes.  Only  one-half  of  this  appropriation 
lias  been  drawn  from  the  state  treasury  and  used  under  your 
direction.  During  the  month  of  May  contracts  were  made 
with  11.  D.  Wood  & Co.,  of  Philadelphia,  to  furnish  2,000 
feet  of  heavy  six-inch,  cast-iron  water  pipe,  which  was  laid 
around  the  hospital  buildings  and  to  connect  the  upper 
reservoir  with  the  main  supply  pipe  to  the  hospital.  A con- 
tract was  also  made  with  Richard  Pattee,  of  Holyoke,  to 
furnish  twelve  double  hydrants,  which  have  been  placed  at 
equidistant  points  around  the  hospital.  Our  facilities  for 
extinguishing  tire  would  now  seem  to  be  as  nearly  perfect  as 
human  foresight  could  reasonably  provide.  We  have  two 
large  reservoirs  connected  with  the  hospital  by  a six-inch 
cast-iron  main.  The  upper  reservoir  is  situated  164  feet 
above  the  first  floor  level  of  the  hospital.  With  this  head  of 
water  it  is  possible  to  throw  two  or  more  streams  above  any 
portion  of  the  hospital  roof.  The  entire  expense  was  $3,- 
075.40.  This  sum  exceeds  by  $75.40  the  State  appropriation. 
The  balance  was  paid  from  the  regular  revenue  of  the 
hospital.*  In  furnishing  the  new  laundry  building  it  was 
found  expedient  to  introduce  some  fixtures  and  labor-saving 
appliances  together  with  a drying-closet  on  a scale  somewhat 
larger  than  the  original  plan  contemplated.  This  has  in- 
volved an  expense  of  $4,462.61,  while  the  appropriation  from 
the  State  amounts  to  only  $2,000.  The  balance  has  been 
taken  from  the  regular  revenue.  These  and  other  needed 
improvements  occupied  the  time  of  the  hospital  working  force 
to  such  a degree  that  we  have  found  it  inexpedient  to  attempt 
the  construction  of  work-shops  and  additional  barns.  Hence, 
the  balance  of  the  State  appropriation  was  not  drawn  from 
the  treasury  and  still  remains  to  our  credit.  As  the  need  of 

* Since  the  General  Assembly  made  this  appropriation  two  State 
Asylums  and  one  County  Building  for  insane  have  been  destroyed  by  fire, 
with  loss  of  life. 


311 


increased  barn-room  and  of  additional  cows  is  quite  impera- 
tive, as  well  as  a work  shop,  where  many  of  our  able-bodied 
male  patients  can  be  employed  daring  the  winter  months,  I 
trust  that  no  time  will  be  lost  in  carrying  out  these  improve- 
ments whenever  the  season  has  advanced  sufficiently  to  admit 
of  outdoor  work. 

NEW  HOSPITAL. 

The  most  important  event  in  this  year’s  history  was  the 
formal  acceptance  by  the  trustees  of  the  New  South  Hospital. 
This  occurred  on  the  fifteenth  anniversary  of  the  organization 
of  the  board  of  trustees,  July  20,  1881.  There  were  present 
on  that  occasion  His  Excellency,  Governor  Hobart  B.  Bigelow, 
and  other  state  officers,  together  with  many  well-known 
workers  in  the  great  field  of  public  charities  from  this  and 
other  States.  It  was  an  occasion  of  unusual  interest,  regarded 
by  us  as  an  auspicious  opening  of  the  new  building.  To  you 
who  are  familiar  with  the  general  arrangements  it  is  un- 
necessary to  give  any  lengthy  description  of  its  plan  ; but  for 
the  information  of  those  who  may  have  friends  committed  to 
its  charge,  a brief  account  of  the  new  building  is  appended. 

It  may  be  well  to  explain  in  advance  that  the  intention  was 
to  provide  accommodation  for  the  quiet  chronic  class,  at  a 
moderate  cost,  in  a building  or  buildings  nQt  complete  in 
themselves,  but  as  supplemental  to  the  main  hospital  organ- 
ization. In  other  words,  the  intention  was  to  have  living 
accommodations  for  262  patients,  with  the  necessary  kitchen 
and  heating  apparatus,  together  with  rooms  for  the  employes. 
The  usual  work  of  providing  supplies,  distributing  the  same, 
and  exercising  official  supervision  over  the  new  hospital, 
devolves  upon  the  officers  of  the  main  hospital,  the  im- 
mediate direction  of  details  being  placed  in  the  charge 
of  an  additional  assistant  physician  and  a competent  house- 
keeper. 

The  new  hospital  consists  of  three  separate  buildings  : a 
central  structure  and  two  pavilions  separated  from  the  center 
by  an  open  space  of  eight  feet.  All  of  these  are  constructed 
of  brick  with  brownstone  window  caps  and  sills,  water  tables 


312 


and  foundation  walls,  surmounted  by  a steep  slate  roof,  which 
is  relieved  by  large  dormer  windows,  gables,  and  a central 
tower.  The  style  of  architecture  is  simple,  yet  pleasing. 
Each  pavilion  may  be  described  as  a flattened  or  broad 
letter  H,  with  a bay  projection  on  the  front  face.  The  linear 
front  of  each  pavilion  is  151  feet,  the  depth  of  end  projection 
61  feet,  and  of  the  intermediate  section  36  feet.  The  project- 
ing bay  is  27  feet  in  width  by  38  feet  in  length.  This  bay,  on 
all  of  the  stories,  is  used  as  the  common  sitting  room  or  day- 
room  for  each  ward,  and  is  well  lighted  by  eight  large 
windows.  A corridor,  10  feet  in  width  and  154  feet  in 
length,  extends  through  the  entire  pavilion.  The  accommo- 
dations for  patients  in  each  ward  are  as  follows:  there  are 
four  dormitories,  each  in  size  24  by  24  feet  at  the  four 
extreme  corners  of  the  projections.  Each  dormitory  has 
ample  space  for  eight  beds.  There  are  nine  single  rooms  on 
the  corridor ; also  a room  for  the  attendants,  a front  and  rear 
stairway,  a bath-room  and  clothes-room,  water-closet,  drying- 
room,  and  broom-closets.  The  large  day- room  or  bay,  already 
described,  opens  in  its  full  size  from  the  corridor.  As  thus 
planned,  with  so  many  large  windows  opening  into  the 
dormitories,  the  sitting-rooms,  and  the  ends  of  the  corridor, 
the  pavilion  is  light,  cheerful,  and  well  ventilated.  It  is 
three  stories  in  height,  with  an  attic  which  is  used  as  a trunk 
room  and  for  storage  purposes.  The  rooms  and  corridors  are 
heated  by  twenty  stacks  of  u Gold  r radiators  placed  in  the 
basement  of  the  corridors,  with  flues  leading  independently  to 
the  different  stories.  Pure  air  is  supplied  to  each  stack  by 
flue-boxes  leading  directly  out  of  doors.  In  addition  to  this 
indirect  radiation  there  is  placed  in  each  dormitory,  in  the 
day-room,  and  the  extremities  of  the  corridors,  a direct 
radiator  which  can  be  used  in  extremely  cold  weather. 
Ventilating  flues,  for  the  removal  of  vitiated  air,  extend  from 
near  the  floor  in  every  room  up  and  out  of  the  roof,  each  as  a 
separate  chimney  flue.  There  are  also  two  large,  open  fire- 
places in  each  of  the  day-rooms,  and  similar  ventilating  flues 
in  each  of  the  dormitories.  This  arrangement  for  the  rapid 


313 


change  of  air  has  been  found  to  work  satisfactorily  without 
the  aid  of  a fan. 

This  general  description  of  the  north  pavilion,  which  is 
occupied  by  males,  applies  to  the  three  stories  of  the  south, 
which  is  occupied  by  females.  Owing  to  a slope  in  the  land 
at  the  extreme  south  end  of  the  pavilion,  a cellar  was  con- 
structed under  the  basement  story,  and  the  latter  floor  level, 
which  is  three  feet  above  ground,  was  made  into  a strong 
ward,  with  nine  single  rooms  and  the  necessary  closets,  bath 
and  day-rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  a class  of  destructive 
female  patients.  Each  of  the  ward  bath-rooms  contains  a 
“ Mott  ” improved  cast-iron  hospital  bath-tub,  hot  and  cold 
water  supply,  with  the  “ McFarland  55  patent  waste  and  over- 
flow. A steam,  fire-proof  drying  closet  opens  from  each  bath- 
room, in  which  towels,  mops,  brooms,  or  soiled  bedding  can 
be  properly  dried.  Each  water-closet  is  furnished  with  two 
cast-iron  stationary  hoppers,  which  are  flushed  automatically, 
at  regular  intervals,  wdtli  a gallon  of  wrater  from  a u McFar- 
land Automatic  Flushing  Tank,”  placed  high  up  on  the  wTall, 
immediately  above  the  hopper.  These  cisterns  can  be 
adjusted  to  discharge  as  frequently  as  desired.  They  consist 
of  an  iron  bucket  hung  in  a cistern  working  in  brass  journals. 
The  filling  of  this  tilting  bucket  is  adjusted  by  a valve  inside 
of  the  cistern,  and  when  full  tips  over,  emptying  the  entire 
contents  at  once,  thereby  charging  the  pipes  and  giving  a 
thorough  wash  to  the  closets  and  urinals.  It  has  been  our 
custom  to  so  arrange  them  that  the  discharge  will  occur  every 
two  minutes.  This  quantity  of  wTater,  precipitated  into  the 
hopper  through  a large  pipe  is  found  to  be  much  more 
effectual  in  removing  waste  than  a running  stream. 

A conveniently  large  slop  hopper  and  urinal  with  the  same 
automatic  supply  has  been  placed  in  each  of  the  closets. 
Two  galvanized  iron  wrash  basins,  on  permanent  frames, 
furnish  the  necessary  facilities  for  personal  cleanliness.  All 
of  the  waste  pipes  from  bath-tubs  and  wash-sinks  are  effect- 
ually closed  by  a “ Bowers  ” trap.  In  further  explanation  of 
the  system  of  sewerage  I would  mention  that  all  of  the  main 


314 


soil  pipes  are  of  heavy  cast-iron,  six  inches  in  diameter,  ex- 
tending from  the  main  sewer  outside  of  the  buildings  up 
through  the  closets  and  out  above  the  roof,  thus  affording  a 
continuous  and  complete  circulation  of  air  through  the  main 
sewer  and  soil  pipes.  From  this  description  it  will  be  seen 
that  all  of  the  soil  pipes  are  of  heavy  cast-iron  with  leaded 
joints,  thus  effectually  preventing  any  escape  into  the  build- 
ing of  foul  air.  The  center  building  is  104  feet  in  length  by 
36  feet  in  width,  three  stories  in  height,  surmounted  by  a 
slate  roof.  A one-story  projection  in  the  rear  of  the  center 
contains  the  kitchen,  scullery,  and  store-room.  A clock 
tower  17  feet  square  is  carried  up  in  front  and  above  the 
main  building.  The  first  story  of  the  center  is  divided  into 
two  large  dining-rooms  with  a covered  passage-way  leading 
from  each  to  the  corresponding  pavilion.  Each  dining-room 
is  furnished  with  tables  and  seats  for  130  persons.  The  dish- 
closets  and  wash-sinks  are  in  the  rear,  between  the  dining- 
rooms and  the  kitchen.  The  kitchen  proper  is  40  feet  in 
length  by  20  feet  in  width.  It  is  furnished  with  a range  16 
feet  in  length,  a steak  broiler  and  a meat  roaster;  also  two 
large  soup  kettles,  four  vegetable  kettles,  an  improved  coffee 
kettle  and  a similar  tea  kettle,  all  supplied  with  steam  pipes 
and  hot  and  cold  water.  Heavy  iron  wash-sinks  stand  in 
convenient  places,  both  in  the  kitchen  and  scullery.  This 
apparatus  was  manufactured  by  Mr.  E.  Whitely  of  Boston, 
and  has  thus  far  worked  to  our  entire  satisfaction.  There  are 
two  windows  and  one  door  on  the  north  and  the  same  on  the 
south  side  of  this  kitchen,  and  a large  skylight  opens  from 
above,  and  two  doors  open  into  the  scullery  in  the  rear;  thus, 
at  all  times,  affording  perfect  ventilation  and  an  abundance 
of  light  in  this  most  important  department.  Two  store- 
rooms for  supplies,  each  12  by  14  feet,  adjoin  the  scullery  at 
the  rear.  A connecting  passage-way,  9 feet  in  length, 
separates  this  building  from  the  boiler-house,  which  is  27  feet 
wide  by  40  feet  in  length,  one  story  in  height.  In  this  are 
placed  two  tubular  boilers,  16  feet  in  length  by  5 feet  in 
diameter.  Each  boiler  contains  58  flues.  In  these  is  gene- 


315 


rated  the  steam  used  for  heating  the  entire  building,  the 
water  for  washing  and  bathing  purposes,  and  to  supply  the 
kitchen  apparatus.  The  boilers  were  manufactured  by  Peter 
Amerman  of  Hartford,  and  the  entire  heating  apparatus 
supplied  and  put  in  place  by  the  Walworth  Mfg.  Co. 
of  Boston.  A chimney  stack  with  an  inner  flue  of  2 feet  4 
inches  by  2 feet  4 inches  is  carried  up  76  feet.  A 12-inch 
opening  is  made  from  the  main  sewer  into  this  chimney  flue, 
through  which  there  is  a continuous  current. 

The  second  story  of  the  center  building  is  divided  into 
rooms,  for  the  assistant  physician,  the  house-keeper  and  the 
farmer  and  his  family.  The  third  story  is  divided  in  four 
rooms  for  servants  on  the  north  side,  and  two  large  sewing- 
rooms  on  the  south  side.  For  convenience  of  going  to  and 
from  the  wards  to  the  sewing-rooms,  a small  passageway  has 
recently  been  completed. 

This  cursory  description  of  the  new  hospital  would  be  in- 
complete without  reference  being  made  to  a comparatively 
new  feature  in  its  construction.  All  of  the  external  walls 
consist  of  an  8-inch  outer  wall,  a 4-inch  air  space,  and  an  8-inch 
inner  wall.  These  two  walls  are  bound  together  by  galvan- 
ized-iron  clamps.  All  of  the  partition  walls  between  the 
halls,  dormitories,  and  single  rooms  are  of  brick.  For  the 
purpose  of  economy  it  was  decided  to  omit  plastering 
wherever  it  could  be  done,  and  in  carrying  out  this  idea  all 
of  the  passageways,  bath-rooms,  store-rooms,  closets,  dormi- 
tories, kitchen,  and  scullery  are  finished  in  four  coats  of  oil 
paint,  laid  directly  on  the  brick  walls ; and  the  long  corri- 
dors in  the  pavilion,  to  a height  of  five  feet,  are  finished  in 
the  same  manner.  By  this  arrangement  it  is  believed  that 
there  was  not  only  economy  in  the  original  construction,  but 
that  also  the  subsequent  repairs  will  be  less  than  where  ordi- 
nary plaster  is  used  in  finishing.  The  floors  throughout  the 
entire  building  are  selected  hard  maple,  planed,  tongued,  and 
grooved.  The  wood-work  of  doors  and  window  casings  is  of 
white  pine,  oiled  and  varnished.  The  entire  cost  of  these 
buildings,  including  furniture  and  fixtures,  was  $130,000. 


316 


On  taking  charge  of  the  new  building  it  was  found  neces- 
sary to  add  a number  of  store-rooms  and  appliances  which 
the  funds  in  their  control  did  not  allow  the  building  commis- 
sioners to  provide.  A few  of  these  may  be  mentioned,  and 
among  the  number,  a steam  drying-closet  for  the  ward  for 
excitable  female  patients.  Also  an  attendant’s  room  and  an 
additional  patient’s  room,  with  the  partitions  and  division 
walls  in  the  basement  story.  As  no  provision  had  been 
made  for  the  storage  of  ice,  butter,  milk,  meat,  or  vegetables, 
mechanics  were  immediately  employed  to  build  these  vari- 
ous rooms  in  the  cellar  of  the  center  building.  It  has  been 
found  necessary  to  have  some  work  done  in  fitting  doors  and 
windows.  This  need  was  probably  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
walls  were  finished  in  winter,  and  the  casings  adjusted  while 
the  walls  were  only  partially  seasoned.  It  soon  became  evi- 
dent that  the  hospital  bakery  would  be  inadequate  to  the  de- 
mands made  by  the  increased  number  of  persons  to  be  pro- 
vided for.  Under  your  instructions  I have  had  an  additional 
oven  13  feet  wide  by  16  feet  in  length,  constructed  in  the 
old  laundry  building,  with  the  necessary  kneading-troughs, 
tables,  wash-sinks,  and  store-rooms.  These  various  improve- 
ments had  to  be  made  immediately,  and  without  waiting  to 
ask  for  an  appropriation  to  meet  the  expense  which  has  been 
$1,372.77.  Add  to  this  the  new  boiler  hereafter  mentioned, 
costing  $1,070,  and  the  new  laundry  expenses  of  $2,462.61, 
and  it  makes  the  sum  total  of  expenses  incident  to  the  new 
hospital  fairly  up  to  $4,905.38.  This  expenditure,  called  for 
at  the  very  start,  is  not  a legitimate  charge  against  the  run- 
ning expenses  of  the  new  institution.  I mention  the  details 
in  this  report  simply  as  a matter  of  official  record.  The  re- 
moval of  chronic  patients  from  the  old  to  the  new  hospital 
afforded  us  an  opportunity,  long  sought  for,  to  vacate  and 
thoroughly  renovate  some  of  the  wards  that  have  been  con- 
stantly overcrowded  during  the  past  fourteen  years.  This 
work  was  efficiently  done  by  removing  and  replacing  soiled 
and  disfigured  walls,  worn  out  floors,  and  crumbling  ceil- 
ings. The  new  work  has  been  thoroughly  finished  in  two 


317 


coats  of  English  silicate  paint  which  is  hard,  durable,  and 
impervious  to  moisture.  We  have,  as  in  former  years,  en- 
deavored to  make  good  throughout  the  entire  house  the 
wear  and  tear  incident  to  the  care  of  a destructive  popula- 
tion. The  same  spirit  has  governed  the  management  of  the 
hospital  farm  and  gardens.  Old  walls  have  been  replaced 
by  new  fences ; brush  and  stones  have  been  removed,  and 
several  fields  drained  and  improved  so  as  to  be  considered 
profitable  farming  land.  For  details  of  the  agricultural  re- 
sults you  are  referred  to  the  accompanying  farmer’s  report. 
It  shows  not  only  an  increase  in  the  quantity  produced,  but 
also  an  improvement  in  the  quality.  A larger  number  of 
patients  have  been  employed  out  of  doors  than  ever  before, 
and  I think  I may  safely  report  progress  in  all  departments 
of  the  work  assigned  to  us. 


FINANCIAL  STATEMENT. 

The  customary  balance  sheet  and  abstract  of  vouchers,  clas- 
sified under  specific  heads,  are  herewith  transmitted.  These 
show  in  detail  the  amount  of  revenue  and  how  expended. 
For  the  first  time  in  its  history  the  hospital  expenses  have 
apparently  exceeded  its  revenue  by  $1,795.56.  This  apparent 
deficit  is  more  than  offset  by  the  possession  of  coal  and  other 
supplies  at  this  date,  costing  far  more  than  the  sum  named. 
It  should  be  remembered  that  the  new  hospital  building  came 
into  your  possession  destitute  of  supplies  or  funds  for  operating 
expenses.  A number  of  details  in  the  construction  were 
found  to  be  imperfect.  It  was  necessary  to  employ  several 
mechanics  at  considerable  expense  to  complete  and  perfect 
absolutely  needed  improvements  before  the  building  could  be 
most  conveniently  adapted  to  its  purposes.  In  addition  to 
this,  various  fixtures  not  included  in  the  contract  for  furnish- 
ing had  to  be  purchased  before  it  was  in  complete  running 
order.  As  a doubt  had  arisen  in  the  minds  of  some  of  the 
officers  respecting  the  capacity  of  the  two  boilers  to  furnish 
sufficient  heat  for  the  new  building  during  extremely  cold 
weather,  a contract  was  made  for  an  additional  boiler  to  sup- 


318 


plement  the  others,  or  in  case  of  repairs.  All  of  these  items, 
which  you  understand  in  detail,  combine  to  make  our  finan- 
cial report  less  favorable  than  in  previous  years.  It  is  known 
that  there  has  been  a large  advance  in  the  price  of  nearly  all 
provisions  during  the  past  eight  months.  Notwithstanding 
these  unexpected  contingencies,  we  have  been  able  to  make 
improvements,  organize  the  new  hospital,  and  purchase  and 
pay  for  the  fuel  required. 

I sincerely  hope  that  the  application  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly which  you  propose  to  make  for  the  land  south  of  the 
hospital,  will  receive  favorable  action. 

The  new  buildings  extend  to  the  boundary  line.  There  is 
not  even  room  for  a passage-way.  No  argument  is  needed  to 
show  why  the  hospital  should  control  the  land  surrounding 
the  building  occupied  by  insane  female  patients.  A due  re- 
gard for  privacy  requires  this  purchase.  The  land  is  valuable 
for  garden  purposes  and  can  be  worked  most  advantageously. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

We  are  again  under  obligations  to  many  friends  who  have 
thoughtfully  remembered  the  institution  by  making  donations 
of  useful  articles  or  in  assisting  in  our  series  of  entertainments. 
In  behalf  of  those  who  cannot  speak  for  themselves,  I would 
in  this  public  manner  return  grateful  acknowledgments  to 
Mrs.  E.  13.  Monroe  of  Southport,  for  books  and  magazines, 
lambrequin  curtains,  and  twenty-five  dollars  in  cash  to  be  ex- 
pended in  books  for  the  new  hospital ; to  Miss  M.  G.  Perry 
of  Southport,  for  books  and  magazines;  to  H.  D.  A.  Ward 
of  Middletown,  for  six  volumes  of  illustrated  German 
papers,  eight  volumes  of  Scribner's  Monthly , five  volumes  of 
Appleton’s  Monthly , one  bound  volume  of  Galaxy , and  twenty- 
five  sermons  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher;  to  W.  W.  Coe,  Esq., 
of  Portland,  for  several  copies  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Times;  to  E. 
Rockwell  of  Middletown,  for  packages  of  pictorial  papers;  to 
Miss  Amelia  Glover,  Middletown,  for  packages  of  books  ; to 
Mr.  C.  W.  Church,  for  two  volumes  Atlantic  Monthly , two  vol- 
umes Appleton’s  Monthly;  to  T.  S.  Gold,  secretary  state  board 


319 


of  agriculture,  one  volume  of  the  annual  report;  to  Senator 
Joseph  R.  Hawley,  one  volume  of  the  last  annual  report  of 
the  agricultural  department  at  Washington;  to  B.  P.  Starr 
of  Hartford,  two  bound  volumes  of  Every  Saturday;  to  Mr. 
John  Barber,  New  Haven,  for  one  volume;  to  W.  W.  Andrews 
of  Rockville,  two  hundred  mammoth  “ Cluster”  raspberry 
vines;  to  John  N.  Stickney,  Esq.,  of  Rockville,  for  a 
lecture;  to  Rev.  A.  W.  IJazen,  for  a lecture;  to  the 
Earnest  Workers  of  the  South  Congregational  Church, 
for  a pleasant  dramatic  entertainment;  to  Hon.  Lewis  E. 
Stanton,  Hartford,  for  an  interesting  lecture  entitled  “Work 
and  Play”;  to  the  officers  and  attendants  of  the  Hartford 
Retreat,  for  a musical  entertainment;  to  Messrs.  Camp, 
Pearne,  and  eighteen  others,  for  a concert  ; to  Miss  Mary 
Beeman,  Miss  Rose  Newell,  Mrs.  Post,  and  Mrs.  Bronson, 
and  Messrs.  Pearne,  Hall,  Bacon,  and  Parsons,  for  an  after- 
noon concert ; to  Mrs.  Edna  Chaffee  Noble  for  a reading  ; to 
a friend,  for  ten  copies  of  the  Parish  Visitor;  and  to  many 
others  who  have  kindly  placed  magazines  and  newspapers  in 
the  hospital  box  at  Mr.  Hastings’  store  for  the  use  of  the  pa- 
tients; also  to  the  publishers  of  the  following-named  state 
papers  for  gratuitous  copies  : 

The  Courant,  daily, 

The  Post,  “ - 

The  Register,  “ 

The  Palladium,  weekly,  - 
The  Times,  weekly, 

Bridgeport  Standard,  weekly, 

Tolland  County  Journal,  weekly, 

Sheltering  Arms,  monthly, 

Connecticut  Western  Weekly,  weekly,  - 
The  Constitution,  weekly, 

Sentinel  and  Witness,  weekly, 

Religious  Herald,  “ 

Weekly  Witness,  “ 

Sabbath  Reading,  “ 

I am  under  obligations  to  the  friends  who  have  kindly 
aided  us  in  our  endeavors  to  provide  suitable  entertainments 
and  amusements  during  the  winter  months.  The  importance 


Hartford 
New  Haven 

i i 

Hartford 
Bridgeport 
Rockville 
New  York 
- Salisbury 
Middletown 

i c 

Hartford 
New  York 


320 


of  this  work  is  evident  to  any  thoughtful  person.  Hospital 
life  at  its  best  must  be  somewhat  irksome  to  those  who  have 
been  accustomed  to  active  pursuits.  The  tedious  monotony 
is  pleasantly  broken  in  the  summer  by  outdoor  employment 
for  those  who  are  able,  together  with  pleasant  games,  exercise 
in  walking,  in  drilling,  and  the  various  means  that  are  easily 
found  while  passing  time  out  of  doors.  Since  the  improve- 
ment of  our  lawn  and  the  rapid  growth  of  plants  and  flowers, 
the  surroundings  have  been  so  attractive  that  not  only  our 
own  people  but  those  from  the  city  and  surrounding  country 
are  often  seen  walking  and  driving  about  the  buildings.  To 
add  to  the  pleasure  of  those  who  are  thus  employed,  the 
hospital  band  has  spent  from  one  to  two  hours  practicing 
every  morning  near  the  south  arbor,  and  on  two  evenings  of 
each  week  at  the  ladies’  arbor.  The  following  entertain- 


merits  were  provided  in  the  amusement  hall 
during  the  winter  season  : 

and 

chapel 

Sociable,  with  dancing, 

12 

evenings. 

Masquerade  Party, 

1 

< < 

Lectures  with  Stereopticon, 

7 

a 

Christmas  Tree, 

1 

t < 

Legerdemain,  E.  A.  Parsons, 

1 

< < 

Dramatic  Entertainment,  Hospital  Troupe, 

5 

< < 

“ “ Earnest  Workers, 

1 

( i 

Comedy  and  Farce,  Middletown  Friends,  .... 

1 

< < 

Musical  Concert,  Retreat  Orchestra, 

1 

< < 

Concert,  Middletown  Friends, 

1 

( < 

Reading  and  Concert,  Miss  Annie  L.  White, 

1 

t { 

“ Miss  L.  L.  Peck, 

1 

1 1 

“ Mrs.  Dr  Lyon, 

1 

i i 

“ Mrs.  Edna  Chaffee  Noble 

Lecture,  The  Wheat  fields  of  Dakota,  Rev.  Dr.  W.  L. 

1 

t < 

Gage, 

1 

ft 

“ Horse  back  ride  through  Syria,  Rev.  C.  H.  Buck, 

1 

1 1 

“ The  Sandwich  Islands,  Dr.  Shew, 

1 

a 

“ Healthy  Homes,  Dr.  C.  W.  Chamberlin, 

1 

f t 

“ Switzerland,  Rev.  A.  W.  Hazen,  .... 

1 

t < 

“ Palestine,  or  the  Holy  Land,  John  N.  Stickney, 

1 

c t 

“ Work  and  Play,  Lewis  E.  Stanton,  Esq., 

Sleighing  Party,  1 afternoon,  conveyances  from  public  and 
private  stables, 

1 

t < 

Band  Concerts, 

34 

“ 

321 


CHANGES  IN  THE  OFFICIAL  STAFF. 

In  March  last,  Mr.  Clinton  W.  Weatherbee  resigned  the 
position  of  farmer,  which  he  had  faithfully  and  most  accept- 
ably filled  since  April,  1868,  to  engage  in  private  business. 
At  the  same  time  Mrs.  Weatherbee  resigned  the  position  of 
housekeeper.  Both  of  these  officers  possessed  rare  executive 
ability,  and  were  well-fitted  to  perform  the  duties  of  their 
respective  offices.  These  vacancies  were  filled  respectively 
by  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Pliny  W.  Sanderson  and  Mrs. 
Jeannette  P.  Packer.  At  the  opening  of  the  new  hospital 
Dr.  Henry  S.  Noble  of  Hartford,  formerly  connected  with 
one  of  the  Michigan  asylums,  and  more  recently  an  assistant 
at  the  Betreat,  was  appointed  assistant  physician,  and  Mrs. 
Annie  L.  Williams,  housekeeper.  With  these  exceptions, 
the  staff  of  officers  remains  the  same  as  at  the  beginning  of  the 
year.  I am  under  deep  obligations  to  all  my  co-laborers, 
who  have  faithfully  performed  the  duties  of  their  several 
positions.  And  especially  am  I encouraged  and  sustained  by 
the  fostering  care  which  you  have  steadily  bestowed  on 
this  great  public  trust. 

Respectively  submitted, 

A.  M.  SHEW,  M.D., 

Superintendent. 

December  1,  1881. 


21 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut : 

The  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at 
Middletown  are  permitted  to  present  their  seventeenth  annual 
report. 

It  is  a satisfaction  to  state  the  fact  that  the  history-  of  the 
hospital  for  the  past  twelve  months  has  been  one  of  quiet 
usefulness,  without  epidemic  illness  among  the  patients,  or 
startling  incidents,  save  the  escape  of  Andersen,  the  particu- 
lars of  which,  with  those  of  his  return,  are  given  in  the  super- 
intendent’s report,  sent  in  with  this,  which  also  will  exhibit 
in  detail  expenditures  of  special  appropriations,  and  the 
accounts  of  the  ordinary  financial  course  of  receipts  and  pay- 
ments since  the  first  of  December,  1881 ; also  the  humane 
work  of  the  hospital  during  the  year. 

We  request  special  attention  of  the  members  of  the  legis- 
lature to  that  portion  of  the  superintendent’s  report  which 
alludes  to  the  apprehension  of  the  people  concerning  the  pos- 
sible reception  by  this  hospital  of  persons  who  are  not  insane. 

The  number  of  patients  who  have  had  the  benefit  of  the 
institution  during  this  year,  has  been  1,079.  There  were 
remaining  30th  of  November,  1882,  842.  Of  these  300  were 
in  the  “ New  Hospital”  ; 73  are  accommodated  in  the  cot- 
tages. These  are  the  chronic  insane. 

It  will  be  seen  in  one  of  the  annexed  tables  that  the  ad- 
missions since  the  opening  of  the  hospital  have  been  2,681. 
This  statement  will  cause  the  reflections,  “ How  many  indi- 
viduals have  been  benefited  ! ” “ How  many  families  have 

been  relieved ! ” 


323 


There  has  been  no  delay  in  admitting  patients  during  the 
year. 

The  record  of  improvements  made  to  cottages  and  on  the 
farm,  of  receipts  and  outlays,  etc.,  is  given  in  the  several 
reports  accompanying  this. 

The  general  uneventful  regularity  of  the  doings  of  this 
branch  of  the  State’s  beneficence  is  evidence  of  its  efficiency 
for  good,  and  of  the  blessing  of  God  which  has  continued  to 
rest  upon  the  work  of  the  hospital. 

No  appropriation  will  be  asked  for. 

The  terms  of  the  members  of  the  Board  for  Middlesex  and 
New  Haven  counties  expire  with  this  year.  Their  reappoint- 
ment is  solicited  at  your  hand. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

HOBART  B.  BIGELOW, 

R.  S.  FELLOWES, 

HENRY  WOODWARD, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 

JAMES  G.  GREGORY,  M.D., 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 

LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 

SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 
RICHMOND  M.  BULLOCK, 
ELISHA  B.  NYE,  -M.D., 

J.  W.  ALSOP,  M.D., 

BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS. 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for 
Insane  : 

Gentlemen  — I have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  re- 
port of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane  for  the  fiscal 
year  ending  November  30,  1882. 

The  year  began  with  731  patients  and  ended  with  842. 

There  were  348  admitted  during  the  year,  of  whom  177 
were  men  and  171  women. 

The  total  number  of  patients  under  treatment  was  1,079. 

The  number  of  patients  discharged  during  the  year  was 
158,  of  whom  87  were  men  and  71  were  women. 

There  were  79  deaths,  of  whom  47  were  men  and  32  women. 

The  average  number  of  patients  resident  during  the  year 
was  789,  of  whom  357  were  men  and  432  were  women. 

These  general  statistics  indicate  in  usual  form  the  sum 
total  of  hospital  work  for  the  year. 

To  you  who  are  familiar  with  the  details  no  further  expla- 
nation would  be  offered  ; but  for  the  information  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  General  Assembly  I may  be  permitted  to  state 
some  of  the  important  factors  included  in  the  general  summary. 

This  period  embraces  the  first  complete  year  since  the  sup- 
plemental building,  or  South  Hospital,  as  it  is  designated, 
was  opened.  It  may,  therefore,  serve  to  measure  the  scope 
and  extent  of  work  the  hospital  in  all  its  departments  is 
capable  of  doing.  In  a degree  it  also  measures  the  needs  of 
the  State.  This  is  made  evident  by  the  fact  that  we  received 
promptly  every  pauper  and  indigent  patient  for  whom  appli- 
cation was  made. 

If  any  insane  persons  are  now  kept  in  almshouses,  the 


325 


responsibility  rests  upon  town  officials  and  not  at  the  door  of 
your  hospital. 

The  majority  of  new  patients  were  brought  to  the  hospital 
without  notice,  and  we  have  declined  to  admit  only  those  who 
could  afford  to  pay  for  treatment  at  private  institutions. 

This  policy  of  making  a distinction  in  favor  of  the  indi- 
gent classes  discriminates  unjustly  against  that  most  deserv- 
ing class  of  society  with  small  means  but  much  self  respect, 
which  would  prefer  to  pay  the  small  rate  of  four  dollars  per 
week  without  going  to  the  town  or  State,  or  to  any  charity 
to  assist  them.  Some  of  these,  after  making  praiseworthy 
efforts  to  meet  the  larger  expense  elsewhere,  finally  come  to 
us  the  subjects  of  charity ; while  others,  unable  to  pay  the 
higher  rates,  remain  at  home  until  the  favorable  period  for 
treatment  has  passed  and  drift  into  a state  of  chronic  insanity. 

Would  it  not  be  true  economy,  as  well  as  good  policy,  to 
admit  all  such  cases  promptly  ? 

During  the  past  year  there  have  been  forty  refusals  of 
such  applicants.  Add  this  number  to  the  348  admissions 
and  you  have  the  sum  total,  388.  The  admissions  for  the 
year  1881  were  352.  Thus,  400  may  be  taken  as  a measure 
of  the  probable  annual  demand  while  the  population  of  the 
State  remains  at  about  750,000. 

But  the  hospital  is  crowded  to  its  full  capacity,  and  hence- 
forth can  only  admit  new  cases  as  vacancies  occur.  Should 
the  same  number  of  persons  be  discharged  and  an  equal 
number  die,  237  vacancies  will  be  made  ; or  163  vacancies 
less  than  the  probable  number  of  new  applicants.  What 
answer  can  I make  to  the  unfortunate  ones  who  will  be  un- 
provided for  ? 

You  say,  discharge  the  quiet  chronic  patients  and  make 
room  for  the  more  urgent  new  applicants.  True  ; but  how 
can  it  be  done  ? Nearly  all  of  these  are  destitute  of  homes 
or  friends.  They  are  feeble  in  body  or  mind,  and  would  soon 
become  the  prey  of  unprincipled  persons  or  perish,  as  the 
result  of  exposure  and  neglect. 

Town  officials  properly  decline  to  remove  homeless  patients 


326 


unless  I can  certify  to  their  complete  restoration  to  health. 
The  sentiment  of  community  and  the  dictates  of  humanity 
alike  demand  that  the  chronic  insane  remain  until  some 
other  provision  is  made  for  their  safety  and  comfort. 

There  are  at  this  date  842  patients.  This  large  population 
is  provided  form  the  following  manner : 

Those  who  need  medical  treatment  and  the  most  care,  in- 
cluding recent  admissions,  the  sick,  and  the  disturbed  of  the 
chronic  class,  442  in  all,  are  assigned  to  the  main  hospital. 

The  new  south  hospital  is  devoted  to  the  chronic  insane  to 
the  number  of  300. 

In  a distinct  building,  called  the  Annex,  26  patients  of  the 
criminal  class  are  provided  for  in  single  rooms. 

The  Roberts  Cottage  contains  20  quiet  female  patients. 
The  Farm  Cottage  10  more  of  the  same  class,  and  the  Silver 
Mine  Cottage  33  quiet  males.  One  old  gentleman  has  for 
several  years  boarded  with  a private  family  near  the  hospital, 
and  thus  the  842  persons  whose  names  appear  on  the  hospital 
register  at  this  date  are  accounted  for. 

Of  those  admitted,  180  are  “ paupers  ” (supported  by  town 
and  State);  132  are  “ indigents”  (supported  by  State  and 
friends)  ; 22  are  wholly  supported  by  the  State  (this  class 
includes  four  convicts  from  Wethersfield,  5 insane  soldiers, 
admitted  by  act  of  the  last  General  Assembly)  ; 9 Superior 
Court  cases  — persons  acquitted  of  crime  on  the  sole  ground 
of  insanity,  and  having  no  legal  settlement  in  any  town ; 4 
by  the  Governor’s  order,  and  14  “ paying  ” patients,  who  are 
self-supporting.  Of  these  various  classes  there  are  at  this 
date  549  paupers,  219  indigents,  66  State,  and  8 paying 
patients.  It  thus  becomes  evident  that  99  per  cent,  of  all 
the  patients  treated  at  this  institution  are  beneficiaries. 

In  a previous  report  I pointed  out  the  growing  tendency 
to  send  patients  at  earlier  periods  of  their  disease  Ilian  for- 
merly. During  the  year  90  of  the  348  admissions,  or  29  per 
cent.,  were  sent  within  three  months  of  the  onset  of  the 
disease.  Forty-eight  of  these  recovered  and  were  discharged 
after  an  average  residence  of  only  2 months  and  28  days, 


327 


and  many  others  are  convalescing.  What  stronger  proof 
could  be  adduced  to  show  the  advantage  and  real  economy  of 
early  treatment?  This  practical  lesson  is  still  more  im- 
pressively brought  to  your  notice  in  the  study  of  the  whole 
admission  record.  In  141  of  the  348  admissions  the  disease 
had  existed  more  than  two  years  prior  to  hospital  treatment, 
and  in  63  of  these  the  duration  extended  from  five  to  fifty 
years. 

The  statistics  of  all  asylums  show  that  insanity  is  pre- 
eminently a disease  tending  towards  chronicity,  and  that  re- 
covery rarely  occur  after  the  mental  disturbance  has  con- 
tinued two  years. 

To  add  to  the  unfavorable  character  of  the  admissions,  I 
should  mention  that  an  unusually  large  number  of  old  per- 
sons were  sent  to  us  this  year,  twenty-seven  of  them  being 
between  60  and  70  years  of  age,  twelve  between  70  and  80, 
four  between  80  and  90,  and  one  between  90  and  100.  We 
have  always  had  in  this  hospital  a very  large  proportion  of 
old  people,  a fact  alluded  to  in  my  last  annual  report  as  fol- 
lows : “ The  death  rate  at  the  institution  has  always  been 
below  the  average,  when  compared  with  similar  institutions 
in  this  and  other  countries.  I attribute  this  to  the  favorable 
location,  to  the  complete  system  of  sewerage  and  ventilation, 
and  to  an  abundant  supply  of  pure  spring  water.  It  is 
evident,  however,  that  the  ratio  of  deaths  must  gradually 
increase  as  long  as  the  hospital  provides  for  chronic  cases 
during  life.  This  fact  is  made  evident  by  a study  of  Table 
XXIV,  where  it  appears  that  there  are  at  this  date  ten 
patients  between  80  and  90;  twenty-six  others  between  70 
and  80 ; sixty-eight  others  between  60  and  70 ; and  one  hun- 
dred and  eighteen  between  50  and  60  years  of  age;  thus 
making  a total  of  222  chronic  patients  remaining  in  the 
institution  between  the  ages  of  50  and  90.  It  has  already 
been  shown  by  our  tables  that  the  average  age  at  death 
among  the  insane  is  50.15  years.  With  these  plain  facts  be- 
fore us,  you  will  hardly  be  surprised  by  a perceptible  increase 
of  the  death  rate  in  the  immediate  future,  and  will  be  ready 


328 


to  attribute  it  to  the  natural  and  legitimate  cause/’  In 
this  connection  it  is  proper  to  state  that  we  have  in  one  ward 
twenty  patients,  ten  of  whom  have  a total  of  750  years  ; or  an 
average  of  75  years  each.  In  another  ward,  containing  nine- 
teen male  patients,  the  average  age  of  all  is  65.53  years,  and 
of  the  ten  oldest  72.20  years.  This  leads  me  to  offer  a sug- 
gestion, which  I trust  will  commend  itself  to  the  wisdom  of 
town  officers  and  the  friends  of  deranged  persons.  It  is  not 
desirable  to  send  a man  away  from  his  home  after  he  is  75 
or  80  years  of  age.  Mental  excitement  combined  with  bodily 
weakness  may  furnish  a plausible  reason  among  the  very 
poor , where  suitable  food,  nursing,  and  attendance  cannot  be 
attainable. 

The  sentiment  of  community  doubtless  demands  that  all 
such  cases  should  be  provided  for,  and  we  are  happy  in  the 
performance  of  labor  in  this  unpromising  portion  of  the 
Master’s  vineyard,  even  if  it  should  measurably  lengthen  our 
mortuary  tables. 

Never  before  in  one  year  have  so  many  cases  been  sent  to 
us  in  a weak  or  exhausted  condition.  All  of  these  required 
and  received  special  diet  of  milk,  eggs,  and  such  nourishing 
foods  as  are  restorative  to  the  sick.  Notwithstanding  all  our 
efforts,  sixteen  of  these  died  after  an  average  residence  in 
hospital  of  only  seventeen  days.  The  following  table  shows 
all  of  the  deaths  and  their  ratios  since  the  hospital  was 
opened  in  1868 : 


329 


Death  and  their  Ratios,  from  May  1,  1868,  to  Nov.  30,  1882. 


year. 

Whole  number  of 
patients. 

6 

a>  • 
tJD® 

g fl 

DEATHS. 

<v 

J3  % 
§ s 

on  daily 
'age 

patients. 

Official 

c3  g 

a 

>> 

’3 

ft 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

Per  cent. 
No.  of  i 

Per  cent, 
avei 
No.  of  i 

1868-69, 

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17.57 

1869-79, 

343 

225  17 

18 

3 

21 

6.12 

9 32 

1870-71, 

307 

237 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72, 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-73, 

336 

264.53 

12 

9 

21 

6.25 

7.86 

1873-74, 

524 

239.51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75, 

605 

425.80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76, 

616 

452  64 

26 

7 

33 

5.35 

7.31 

18/6,  8 mos. 
Dec.  1,  1876, 

548 

456  97 

9 

6 

15 

2.73 

3.28 

Nov.  30,  ’77, 

619 

463.88 

19 

12 

31 

5 01 

6.69 

1877-78, 

629 

474.17 

27 

13 

40 

6.36 

8.43 

1878-79, 

644 

498.34 

9 

10 

19 

2.95 

3.81 

1879-80, 

654 

514  63 

16 

14 

30 

4.58 

5 82 

1880-81, 

881 

608.51 

32 

12 

44 

5 00 

7.24 

1881-82, 

1079 

789.27 

47 

32 

79 

7.32 

10.01 

The  average  age  of  all  was  52.54  years.  Seven  had  sur- 
vived 80  years;  eight  were  between  70  and  80;  thirteen 
between  60  and  70 ; fourteen  between  50  and  60,  and  thirty- 
nine  under  50. 

In  the  causation  of  death,  tuberculosis  (pulmonary  con- 
sumption) leads  with  a total  of  14  ; next  to  this  maniacal  ex- 
haustion (12),  general  paralysis  (9),  old  age  (7),  epilepsy 
(6),  apoplexy  (5),  and  heart  disease  (4),  stand  in  regular 
order.  All  but  two  of  the  79  deaths  were  from  natural 
causes,  and  are  properly  classified  in  Table  XXII. 

With  a crowded  hospital  containing  at  all  times  a turbu- 
lent population  and  many  actively  suicidal  patients,  only  two 
persons  succeeded  in  committing  suicide.  It  has  well  been 
said  that  among  the  insane  the  unexpected  event  will  most 
surely  occur.  It  has  thus  in  one  of  these  sad  cases,  a woman 
who  had  passed  through  the  clouds  of  abject  despondency 
and  extreme  melancholia  into  the  light  of  convalescence, 


330 


after  receiving  a letter  from  her  husband  conveying  the 
promise  of  a speedy  return  to  her  happy  home,  deliberately 
and  in  the  most  cunning  manner  planned  a method  of  silently 
ending  her  own  life  while  the  attendant  and  others  were 
within  a few  feet  of  her  person. 

Of  the  admissions  246  were  first  admissions  to  this  or  any 
hospital  for  the  insane.  Sixty-two  were  readmissions ; that 
is,  they  were  transfers  (14)  from  other  institutions,  or  per- 
sons (48)  who,  in  previous  years,  had  been  discharged  from 
this  hospital  as  shown  in  the  following  table: 


ADMISSIONS. 

Males.  ! 

Females. 

Total. 

First,  ..... 

140 

146 

286 

Second,  ..... 

24 

11 

35 

Third,  ..... 

7 

1 

8 

Fourth,  ..... 

3 

1 

4 

Fifth,  ..... 

0 

0 

0 

Sixth,  ..... 

1 

0 

1 

Transferred  from  other  hospitals,  . 

2 

12 

14 

Total,  ..... 

177 

171 

348 

The  percentage  of  admissions  to  the  average  number  resi- 
dent was  very  large  compared  with  other  State  asylums,  and 
implies  increased  work,  more  expense,  greater  risk  of  acci- 
dents, and  a larger  death  rate.  Notwithstanding  these  varied 
contingencies  the  professional  results  of  the  year’s  labors  are 
most  gratifying. 

Viewed  as  a whole,  the  year  has  been  comparatively  free 
from  the  disturbances  incident  to  life  among  the  insane.  On 
every  pleasant  day  during  the  summer  and  autumn  all  who 
were  physically  able  remained  out  of  doors  several  hours,  en- 
gaged in  light  work  or  simple  recreation.  We  have  con- 
tinued the  military  drilling  among  the  men,  which  was  insti- 
tuted by  Col.  Thayer  eight  years  ago.  Its  influence  is 
perceptibly  beneficial  in  cultivating  habits  of  regularity  and 
precision,  and  in  counteracting  the  tendency  to  repose  or  in- 


831 


action  which  is  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of  chronic 
melancholia  and  dementia.  Band  concerts  were  enjoyed 
during  the  morning  hours  at  the  gentlemen’s  arbor,'  and  on 
Tuesday  and  Friday  evenings  at  the  ladies’  arbor.  With  so 
much  liberty  and  only  an  occasional  necessity  for  mechanical 
restraint  (averaging  less  than  one-quarter  of  one  per  cent, 
of  the  daily  number  present),  few  elopement  attempts  were 
made,  and  these  few  by  patients  on  limited  parole  who  were 
engaged  in  farm  work  at  long  distances  from  the  hospital. 
I have,  however,  to  report  one  event  which  caused  us  consid- 
erable solicitude.  During  the  night  of  May  3d,  John  Ander- 
sen, well  known  as  the  Wallingford  murderer,  an  insane 
convict,  transferred  from  Wethersfield  Prison  about  three 
years  ago,  succeeded  in  making  his  escape  from  the  “ Annex.” 
All  of  the  facts  respecting  this  event  were  so  widely  published 
at  the  time  that  I will  only  add  in  this  official  manner,  that 
Andersen  was  arrested  near  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  safely  returned 
to  the  hospital  after  an  absence  of  only  ten  days.  This  epi- 
sode had  the  effect  of  causing  him  great  mental  disturbance, 
which  has  only  recently  subsided.  Realizing  the  fact  that 
this  man  is  a dangerous  homicidal  maniac,  extra  precautions 
are  observed  to  prevent  a recurrence  of  a similar  nature. 

Permit  me  to  call  your  attention  to  a subject  which  peri- 
odically attracts  attention  for  a time  and  is  then  apparently 
forgotten  until  some  sensational  case  brings  it  to  public 
notice.  I refer  to  the  present  law  regarding  the  commitment 
of  the  insane  to  asylums.  In  this  State  the  law  is  a tolera- 
bly good  one,  and,  so  far  as  I am  aware,  no  injustice  has 
been  done  to  individuals  or  institutions.  Yet  in  other  States 
where  similar  laws  are  in  force  there  is  dissatisfaction,  and 
the  sentiment  of  the  community  demands  changes  in  order  to 
relieve  public  apprehension. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  a great  deal  which  has  been  written 
and  spoken  of  late  about  “ incarcerating  the  sane”  is  sensa- 
tional and  untrue.  There  is  no  danger  that  an  institution 
like  this,  which  is  always  full,  and  whose  field  of  labor  is 
among  the  poor,  will  be  used  for  unlawful  purposes.  To  get 


332 


a sane  man  into  this  institution  and  keep  him  here  without 
detection  and  exposure  would  require  a combination  of  cir- 
cumstances approaching  the  miraculous.  The  relatives  or 
friends  must  be  conspirators,  the  selectmen  of  towns  and  the 
judge  of  probate  must  be  in  league  with  them,  and  the  exam- 
ining physicians  unfaithful  or  incompetent.  All  this  is  nec- 
essary to  secure  commitment  to  the  institution,  and  finally, 
as  you  have  the  authority  to  discharge  patients  at  any  time, 
to  keep  sane  persons  here  it  would  be  necessary  to  deceive  or 
debauch  all  of  the  medical  officers,  attendants,  and  employes, 
a possibility  which  is  too  improbable  to  require  serious  con- 
sideration. 

This  hospital  has  admitted  2,681  patients  during  the  past 
fifteen  years  without  having  a writ  of  habeas  corpus  served  or 
even  the  suspicion  of  one.  In  the  annexed  tables  are  29 
cases  reported  as  “ not  insane,”  but  all  of  these  were  either 
•cases  feigning  insanity  to  escape  penal  servitude,  inebriates 
without  maniacal  excitement,  or  persons  awaiting  trial  who 
were  sent  here  by  the  courts  to  determine  their  mental  con- 
dition. 

Practically,  then,  the  question  does  not  concern  this  insti- 
tution ; but  if  an  amendment  to  the  present  law,  making  the 
process  of  commitment  more  cumbersome  and  tedious,  would 
give  greater  confidence  to  the  public,  it  would  meet  with  my 
cordial  approbation.  No  arrangement  is  likely  to  be  lasting 
that  is  not  sufficiently  equitable  and  just  to  command  the  ap- 
proval of  all. 

The  extreme  drouth  during  the  summer  of  1881  demon- 
strated the  fact  that  our  storage  reservoirs  were  not  adequate 
to  the  increased  demands  made  upon  them  by  the  New  South 
Hospital.  After  obtaining  the  opinion  of  Mr.  George  Bishop, 
an  experienced  hydraulic  engineer,  you  wisely  determined  to 
raise  the  dam  of  the  upper  reservoir.  Ten  acres  of  adjoin- 
ing land  were  purchased  for  $1,085.63,  and  the  labor  of  mov- 
ing the  gate-house  and  raising  and  extending  the  dam  has 
been  accomplished  during  the  period  embraced  in  this  report. 
The  upper  reservoir  now  covers  six  acres,  with  an  average 


333 


depth  of  ten  feet.  Thus  the  old  and  the  new  reservoirs  hold 
18,000,000  gallons,  or  a supply  adequate  to  the  demands  of 
the  institution  for  a period  of  ten  months  provided  no  water 
was  being  added.  But  it  should  be  remembered  that  in- 
numerable living  springs  are  constantly  pouring  their  sup- 
plies into  both  reservoirs,  so  that  during  nine  months  of  the 
year  more  water  passes  through  the  waste  canal  than  is 
being  used  at  the  hospital.  It  may  now  be  safely  asserted 
that  the  supply  of  pure,  soft  water  for  present  or  prospective 
useful  and  ornamental  purposes  is  fully  equal  to  all  demands. 
As  the  reservoir  level  is  175  feet  above  the  first  floor  of  the 
hospital,  sufficient  pressure  is  secured  at  all  times  for  use  in 
case  of  fire.  The  entire  cost  of  this  work,  including  pur- 
chase of  land,  which  has  been  paid  for  out  of  our  current  re- 
ceipts, was  11,911.18. 

The  amount  of  coal  used  for  all  purposes  is  about  3,000 
tons.  Heretofore  we  have  stored  500  tons  in  a shed  at 
the  dock,  which  could  be  hauled  during  the  winter  season  when 
the  farm  teams  were  at  leisure,  500  in  a shed  near  the 
boiler-house,  and  the  balance  was  dumped  in  a pile.  This 
involved  heavy  shoveling.  To  avoid  the  heaviest  part  of 
this  labor  a plank  driveway  has  been  erected  on  chestnut 
posts,  by  means  of  which  the  teamsters  drive  up  an  inclined 
platform  and  simply  dump  the  coal  down.  The  bridgeway 
serves  as  a partial  covering  or  shed  to  the  coal.’  The  entire 
cost  of  this  much-needed  improvement  was  $458.62. 

Two  years  ago  you  asked  for  and  received  an  appropriation 
of  $5,000  to  be  used  in  building  a shop  and  a new  barn  and 
the  purchase  of  additional  cows. 

In  compliance  with  the  conditions  of  the  appropriation,  a 
large  brick  addition  with  slate  roof  has  been  made  to  the 
carpenter’s  shop,  in  which  much  needed  room  for  the  storage 
of  material  has  been  secured,  as  well  as  a shop  where  thirty 
male  patients  can  be  employed  at  brush-making  during  the 
winter  months.  Work  will  be  commenced  as  soon  as  I can 
find  a suitable  man,  experienced  in  the  details,  to  act  as  fore- 
man attendant.  This  branch  of  industry  has  already  been 


334 


successfully  introduced  at  the  Government  Hospital  for  Insane 
at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  at  Norristown,  Pa. 

The  erection  of  a new  farm  barn  was  necessarily  delayed 
until  October.  Under  the  direction  of  your  building  commit- 
tee, plans  were  procured  for  a barn  48  feet  in  width  by  64 
feet  in  length,  and  a contract  made  with  Messrs.  J.  W.  Hub- 
bard & Co.  of  Middletown,  to  complete  the  same  ready  for 
use  this  winter.  The  plan  is  as  follows  : a cellar  for  manure 
under  the  stables;  stalls  for  32  cows  on  the  first  floor,  and 
the  usual  bays  and  storerooms  above.  Although  not  com- 
pleted at  this  date,  the  work  is  so  well  under  way  as  to  give 
promise  of  useful  occupancy  early  in  January. 

Nine  cows  have  been  added  to  our  herd,  and  more  will  be 
purchased  as  soon  as  the  stable  is  completed. 

The  appropriation  has  been  expended  as  follows  : for  shop, 
$1,210H6;  for  cows,  1457.50  ; and  on  account  of  barn,  8944.44, 
making  a total  to  December  1st,  of  82,612.10.  The  balance 
of  the  contract  is  82,700,  which  is  included  in  our  statement 
of  liabilities,  and  will  soon  be  paid,  thus  making  a total  of 
85,312.06.  From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  8312.06  have  been 
expended  in  excess  of  appropriation,  and  which  is  provided 
from  our  income. 

Vouchers  for  all  expenditures  are  audited  by  the  finance 
committee  and  by  the  State  auditors,  and  placed  on  file  for 
permanent  preservation. 

An  appropriation  of  88,000  was  made  by  the  last  General 
Assembly  to  conclude  a purchase  of  “ the  Roberts  property,” 
some  ten  acres  of  garden  land  adjacent  to  the  new  hospital, 
together  with  the  dwelling-house  and  other  farm  buildings. 
This  purchase  was  recommended  and  contracted  for  by  a 
special  legislative  committee  appointed  in  1879.  Since 
obtaining  possession  the  house  has  been  furnished  and 
occupied  as  a cottage  for  20  quiet  female  patients,  thus 
making  the  third  dwelling  used  in  this  way. 

One  of  these  is  a large  frame  house  formerly  used  as  a 
hotel  or  boarding-house  at  the  silver  mine  on  the  river  bank, 
one  mile  east  of  the  hospital.  Here  33  quiet  male  patients 


335 


are  provided  for,  where  they  have  healthy  employment  at 
garden  work,  and  greater  freedom. 

Another  is  the  white  wooden  dwelling  house  on  the  farm, 
near  the  river,  one-half  mile  from  the  main  hospital.  Here 
20  female  patients  find  a comfortable  home  and  extended 
privileges.  All  of  these  dwellings  are  heated  by  stoves  and 
lighted  by  lamps.  The  windows  and  doors  have  ordinary 
blinds  and  locks  of  farm  houses.  The  patients  are  virtually 
at  liberty  while  under  the  observation  of  experienced  attend- 
ants. 

With  so  much  freedom  and  apparent  self-control  the  ques- 
tion naturally  arises,  why  retain  these  persons  under  hospital 
supervision  at  all  ? Why  are  they  not  discharged  ? Simply 
because  they  have  no  other  home,  and  some  at  least  show* 
perverted  propensities  and  disturbing  habits  rendering  their 
presence  in  society  a source  of  unpleasant  solicitude.  Is  it 
not  apparently  desirable  in  this  day  of  philanthropic  efforts 
to  be  occasionally  reminded  that  sane  communities  have 
rights  that  should  be  respected  as  well  as  the  afflicted 
classes  ? 

Scarely  one  of  these  73  patients,  if  taken  before  a jury  on 
a writ  of  habeas  corpus , would  come  up  to  the  arbitrary  legal 
definition  of  insanity ; and  yet  they  are  without  exception 
defective,  perverted,  or  diseased  to  such  a degree  that  they 
will  continue  during  natural  life  a burden  to  society. 

The  great  difficulty  is  what  to  do  with  the  poorer  class  of 
patients,  without  homes,  who  have  become  quiet  and  chronic. 
These  patients  scarely  need  the  medical  and  general  super- 
vision of  a fully  equipped  hospital  for  the  insane.  And  yet 
communities  will  not  tolerate  their  presence.  “Cranks” 
have  committed  so  many  horrible  and  unexpected  acts  during 
the  past  few  months  that  a general  distrust  pervades  society, 
and  the  demand  is  made  for  increased  restriction  rather  than 
enlarged  liberty  of  this  very  class  of  u harmless  lunatics.” 
Only  in  rare  instances,  among  the  larger  towns,  can  wre  send 
them  back  to  the  selectmen,  for  only  a few  towns  have  made 
any  provision  for  the  safety  or  care  of  the  insane. 


3*36 


I am  reluctantly  forced  to  the  conviction  that  at  no  distant 
day  it  will  become  necessary  for  the  State  of  Connecticut  to 
make  further  provision  for  the  insane  of  her  dependent 
classes. 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT. 

By  referring  to  the  superintendent’s  abstract  of  vouchers 
and  the  treasurer’s  report  (pages  40  and  41),  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  total  revenue  during  the  past  year  was  $167,791.82. 
The  total  expenditures  were  $166,968.89.  The  cost  of  meat, 
flour,  butter,  cheese,  and  other  provisions  has  been  much 
above  the  average  for  the  five  preceding  years,  necessitating 
great  economy  and  constant  watchfulness  over  all  expendi- 
tures. The  comparatively  less  proportional  expense  of 
attendance  and  service  of  an  increased  number  of  patients 
has  enabled  us  to  provide  for  the  daily  wants  of  such  an 
institution,  including  repairs  and  improvements,  previously 
mentioned,  without  running  into  debt.  A comparison  between 
the  tables  of  this  and  previous  reports,  which  contain 
classified  lists  under  appropriate  heads  of  all  expenditures, 
will  enable  you  to  make  such  studies  of  special  points  as  you 
may  desire. 

You  cannot  fail  to  notice  with  interest  the  full  exhibit  of 
the  operations  of  the  farming  department  as  afforded  by  the 
accompanying  report  of  Mr.  Sanderson. 

The  severe  and  long-continued  drought  doubtless  lessened 
the  sum  total  of  produce  nearly,  if  not  quite,  one-half. 
Making  due  allowance  for  this,  the  yield  compares  favorably 
with  previous  years.  More  convalescent  patients  have  been 
thus  employed  than  ever  before.  As  a restorative  agent, 
light  outdoor  employment  is  most  valuable.  It  is  gratifying 
to  note  the  beneficial  change  in  the  conduct  of  some  patients 
soon  after  awaking  their  interest  in  garden  work.  One  old 
man  firmly  believes  that  he  owns  the  entire  property,  and  is 
rapidly  accumulating  wealth.  Another  faithfully  devotes 
himself  to  the  care  of  our  horses  with  so  much  fidelity  that  I 
can  only  secure  the  favor  of  a horse  occasionally  by  present- 
ing plausible  reasons. 


337 


It  has  been  very  gratifying  to  note  the  growing  interest  in 
this  benevolent  work  manifested  by  the  public.  We  have,  at 
unexpected  periods,  received  various  contributions  of  books, 
magazines,  and  papers  for  the  use  of  the  patients,  viz. : from 
Mrs.  E.  B.  Monroe  of  Southport,  fifty  books  and  several  pack- 
ages of  magazines  ; one  improved  Pond’s  spliygmograph  from 
Dr.  S.  G.  Hubbard  of  New  Haven  ; magazines  from  Mrs. 
Cephas  Brainard  of  Haddam  ; six  copies  each  of  the  Sailor's 
Magazine  and  Illustrated  Weekly  from  R.  S.  Fellowes  of  New 
Haven  ; The  Century  Magagzine  from  L.  R.  Hazen  ; illustrated 
papers  from  Miss  Tracy  ; one  volume  of  the  Independent  from 
Hon.  Curtis  Bacon,  and  complete  sets  of  magazines  from 
Miss  Bacon:  two  overcoats  from  Prof.  C.  S.  Harrington; 
Evening  Post  Annual  from  D.  Ward  Northrop,  Esq. ; one 
fine  steel  engraving,  framed,  entitled  “ Waiting  at  the  Gate,” 
from  Dr.  E.  B.  Nye ; The  Agriculturist  and  Christian  Union 
from  Dr.  Chase;  nine  books  from  Mr.  George  Parmelee,  all 
of  Middletown;  and  German  carp  from  the  Smithsonian 
Institute ; and  “ Report  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  ” 
from  Hon.  John  R.  Buck  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Many  others 
have,  during  the  year,  sent  papers  and  periodicals  to  the 


hospital  box  at  Mr.  Hastings’  store. 

We 

are  also 

under 

renewed  obligations  to  the  publishers 

of  the  following 

news- 

papers,  which  have  been  regularly  received  : 

Hartford  Daily  Courant,  . 

Hartford, 

Conn. 

do.  do.  Evening  Post, 

do. 

do. 

do.  Weekly  Times,  . 

do. 

do. 

Religious  Herald,  .... 

do. 

do. 

New  Haven  Evening  Register, 

Newr  Haven 

, do. 

do.  Weekly  Palladium,  . 

do. 

do. 

Bridgeport  do.  Standard, 

Bridgeport, 

do. 

Tolland  Co.  do.  Journal, 

Rockville, 

do. 

The  Constitution,  .... 

Middletown, 

do. 

The  Sentinel  and  Witness, 

do. 

do. 

Connecticut  Western  Weekly, 

Salisbury, 

do. 

The  Enterprise,  do. 

Naugatuck, 

do. 

The  Review,  do. 

do. 

do. 

The  Sheltering  Arms  (monthly),  . 

New  York  City. 

Weekly  Witness,  . 
Sabbatli  Heading  (weekly), 
22 


do. 

do. 


do. 

do. 


338 


To  the  clergymen  of  this  vicinity  who  have  conducted  our 
chapel  services  throughout  the  year  we  owe  a debt  not  in 
our  power  to  cancel.  In  behalf  of  those  who  cannot  speak 
for  themselves  I would  return  grateful  acknowledgments. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  Wesleyan  University  Glee  Club  for 
a delightful  musical  entertainment  and  play ; also  to  the 
“Bee  Society”  for  a charming  dramatic  entertainment.  The 
monotony  of  winter  evenings  was  pleasantly  broken  by  the 
following  entertainments  in  the  amusement  hall  and  chapel : 


Sociable,  with  dancing,  . . . .14  evenings. 

Lectures,  illustrated  with  stereopticon,  . . 6 “ 

Roller  skating,  . . . . 15  44 

Dramatic  entertainments,  Hospital  Troupe,  . 4 “ 

4 4 “ Bee  Society,  . . 1 44 

Minstrels,  Hospital  Troupe,  . . . 1 “ 

Lecture,  “Peru,”  Rev.  J.  H.  Twichell,  . 1 “ 

“ “ The  Building  of  a Home,”  Rev.  R.  S. 

True,  . . . . 1 “ 

Reading  and  concert,  Miss  Annie  L.  White,  . 1 44 

44  Miss  Stuart,  . . . 1 44 

44  Miss  Nettie  Taylor,  . . . 2 “ 

44  Mr.  George  Lyon,  Jr.,  . . . 1 “ 

Ventriloquism,  Henry  T.  Bryant,  . . 1 44 

Concert,  Jubilee  Singers,  . . . 1 44 

Operetta  and  play,  Wesleyan  students,  . . 1 44 


It  may  be  proper  to  remark  that  the  introduction  of  roller 
skating  has  afforded  patients  and  attendants  much  enjoyment, 
together  with  healthful  exercise.  Thus  far  accidents  from 
falls  have  caused  a great  deal  of  amusement  to  the  spectators 
and  no  serious  discomfort  to  the  sufferers. 

The  attendants  and  other  employes,  whose  duties  are  at  all 
times  confining,  laborious,  and  peculiarly  trying,  deserve 
commendation,  and  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  speak  thus  favor- 
ably of  nearly  all  who  have  been  with  us  during  the 
year.  Some  few,  forgetful  of  their  duty  to  God  and  their 
fellow  beings,  have  betrayed  the  sacred  trust  naturally 
reposed  in  them  when  assuming  the  care  of  the  insane. 
Prompt  dismissal  for  cause  and  merited  appreciation  of 
faithfulness  in  service  has  tended  to  elevate  and  ennoble  this 
branch  of  charitable  work. 


339 


The  superintendent  is  also  under  deep  obligations  to  the 
resident  officers  for  their  continued  and  efficient  services. 
Without  their  zealous  co-operation  he  would  be  unable  to 
properly  execute  your  philanthropic  designs. 

In  the  month  of  March  Dr.  Henry  S.  Noble  received  and 
accepted  a well-merited  promotion  to  a higher  position  in  a 
similar  institution  at  the  West.  Although  his  official  con- 
nection with  this  hospital  lasted  only  nine  months,  it  was 
long  enough  to  show  that  lie  possessed  in  a preeminent 
degree  all  the  qualifications  required  in  this  peculiar  profes- 
sional work.  The  vacancy  thus  caused  you  wisely  filled  by 
the  appointment  of  Dr.  James  M.  Keniston,  a graduate  of 
Harvard,  who,  besides  two  years  at  the  Butler  Hospital,  Prov- 
idence, had  an  experience  of  ten  years  in  general  practice  at 
Cambridgeport,  Mass. 

In  your  official  visits,  at  regular  and  irregular  periods,  we 
have  all,  sane  and  insane,  learned  to  rely  upon  your  ready 
assistance. 

In  behalf  of  those  who  are  incapable  of  expressing  their 
obligation  to  your  board  I acknowledge  their  indebtedness, 
while  I thank  you  for  the  support  which  you  have  given  the 
superintendent  and  other  officers  of  this  noble  charity. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

A.  M.  SHEW,  M.D., 

Superintendent. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  November  30,  1882. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut : 

The  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane 
present  to  your  honorable  body  their  eighteenth  report. 

Knowing  how  closely  the  interests  of  the  State  are  con- 
nected with  this  hospital  — its  history  and  growth,  its  cost, 
and  the  large  return  in  comfort,  restoration,  and  cure,  it  has 
provided  for  thousands  of  our  citizens,  preventing  anxious 
alarm  in  many  families  and  homes,  affording  so  much  of 
satisfaction  in  the  line  of  Christian  benevolence,  and  minis- 
tering to  a reasonable  State  pride  — it  is  the  duty  and  sincere 
wish  of  the  trustees  to  invite  the  attention  of  the  legislature 
to  the  several  reports  herewith  laid  before  them. 

The  absence  for  a whole  year  of  any  epidemic,  or  of  any 
loss  of  life  by  violence  amidst  so  large  a population,  includ- 
ing hundreds  in  diseased  conditions  as  to  mental  and  moral 
accountability,  has  been  a great  blessing,  which  can  only  be 
thoroughly  appreciated  by  the  medical  officers  and  attend- 
ants whose  grave  charge  it  has  been  to  watch,  hour  by  hour, 
through  days  and  nights,  over  the  thirty  wards  under  their 
care.  All  must  admit  that  such  a good  result  is  evidence  of 
faithful  vigilance. 

The  reading  of  Dr.  Shew’s  report  will  aid  members  to  form 
a better  opinion  and  a juster  estimate  of  the  weight  of  the 
responsibility  which  rests  on  a hospital  superintendent,  his 
colleagues  and  assistants,  in  a work  often  trying  and  dis- 
heartening, and  to  answer  questions  which  will  naturally 


341 


arise  in  their  own  hearts,  as  to  what  extensions,  in  providing 
for  more  of  the  insane  and  mentally  disabled,  it  is  wise  for 
the  State  to  make. 

Advanced  practical  Christianity  and  experience  have  set- 
tled the  question  that  it  is  the  hospital  with  professional 
supervision  and  appliances  which  must  be  the  home  of  the 
insane  while  needing  seclusion  and  healing  treatment. 
Almshouse  shelter  with  promiscuous  minglings  of  all  classes 
is  a thing  of  the  unhappy  past,  never  more,  under  any  plea 
of  economy  or  policy,  to  be  revived. 

Of  1,113  under  treatment  during  the  year,  860  remain  at 
this  date. 

Additions  and  improvements  to  the  buildings  have  been 
made,  which  are  named  in  detail  in  the  appended  papers. 

Your  hospital  has  been  enriched  during  the  year  by  a wel- 
come gift  from  one  of  the  board,  Hon.  Robbins  Battell,  of  a 
chime  of  bells,  placed  wholly  at  his  expense  in  the  tower  of 
the  new  hospital,  and  attached  to  a clock  in  a room  prepared 
for  the  purpose  by  the  late  commissioners  when  erecting  that 
building.  The  musical  toning  of  the  chimes  was  supervised 
personally  by  Mr.  Battell.  While  the  furnishing  of  a stand- 
ard time  is  a benefit  to  the  whole  institution,  it  is  very  grati- 
fying to  know  that  the  sleepless  patients  watch  for  the 
quarter-hour  chimes,  and  are  delighted  and  soothed  by  their 
silvery  minor  tones. 

God’s  blessing  has  rested  on  the  service  of  the  past  twelve 
months ; much  good  has  been  done,  and  our  hearts  are 
grateful. 

We  have  been  called  to  mourn  the  sudden  death  of  Hon. 
Richmond  M.  Bullock  of  Windham  county.  He  was  a most 
respected  and  beloved  member  of  the  board,  whose  good 
judgment  and  genial  fellowship  will  long  be  missed. 


342 


Besides  filling  his  place,  the  terms  of  the  appointment  of 
the  members  for  Litchfield  and  Fairfield  counties  expire  at 
this  date.  Their  recommission  is  earnestly  desired. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

THOMAS  M.  WALLER, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 

JAMES  G.  GREGORY,  M.D., 
H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 

R.  S.  FELLOWES, 

HENRY  WOODWARD, 
ELISHA  B.  NYE,  M.D., 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 

J.  W.  ALSOP,  M.D. 

Middletown,  November  30, 1883. 


RE  POET  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane : 

Gentlemen,  — It  is  my  privilege  to  submit  the  following 
report  of  this  institution  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  November 
30, 1883  : 

The  year  began  with  842  patients,  and  ended  with  860. 

There  were  271  admitted  during  the  year,  of  whom  135 
were  men  and  136  women. 

The  total  number  of  patients  under  treatment  was  1,113. 

The  number  of  patients  discharged  during  the  year  was 
173,  of  whom  78  were  men  and  95  women. 

There  were  80  deaths,  of  whom  43  were  men  and  37 
women. 

The  average  number  of  patients  resident  during  the  year 
was  854.5,  of  whom  385.61  were  men  and  468.89  were 
women. 

ADMISSIONS. 

The  total  number  of  patients  admitted  was  271  (see  table 
XIII).  Of  this  number,  193  were  first  admissions,  that  is, 
recent  cases  or  persons  who  were  for  the  first  time  sent  to 
any  hospital  for  treatment,  30  were  second,  5 were  third, 
and  5 were  fourth  admissions.  Five  had  been  inmates  of 
other  hospitals  several  times.  Of  24  nothing  could  be  learned 
respecting  their  previous  histories.  Of  the  9 reported  as  not 
insane,  2 were  women  addicted  to  the  opium  habit,  3 were 
men  acquitted  of  crime  by  the  superior  court  on  the  ground 
of  insanity,  2 were  simple  *cases  of  inebriety,  1 a life  convict 
from  Wethersfield,  and  1 a woman  whose  good  conduct  at 
the  hospital  and  straightforward  story  respecting  her  intern- 


344 


perate  spouse,  led  us  to  conclude  that  the  wrong  member  of 
the  family  had  been  sent  to  the  hospital  by  the  selectmen. 
Subsequent  events  have  served  to  confirm  our  suspicions. 
All  of  these  persons  were  discharged  as  soon  as  the  legal 
steps  could  be  taken. 

Of  the  271  persons  admitted  (see  table  IX),  3 were  com- 
mitted by  friends  (paying  patients),  247  by  probate  court,  10 
by  superior  court,  3 by  police  court,  and  8 by  orders  from  the 
governor  of  the  State.  This  latter  class  includes  the  transfer 
of  3 convicts  from  Wethersfield  and  the  admission  of  5 insane 
soldiers. 

Of  those  admitted,  10  were  under  twenty  years  of  age  ; 
two  were  only  sixteen,  both  of  whom  made  rapid  and  good 
recoveries. 

Eleven  — 5 males  and  6 females  — had  passed  beyond  the 
allotted  period  of  life.  Of  these,  one  came  to  us  aged  seven- 
ty-four, one  seventy-six,  two  seventy-nine,  and  one  eighty- 
eight.  Naturally  these  cases  help  to  lengthen  the  mortuary 
table. 

While  we  cannot  expect  to  remedy  the  decay  wrought  by 
age,  it  has  been  some  satisfaction  to  minister  to  the  comfort 
of  these  aged  patients. 

Thirteen  of  the  271  admissions  were  suffering  from  that 
incurable  and  always  fatal  disease,  paresis,  paretic  dementia, 
or  progressive  paralysis  of  the  insane.  Two  of  these  were 
females — a fact  worthy  of  record.  This  disease  rarely 
develops  in  the  female,  and  we  have  only  admitted  one  pre- 
vious case.  There  seems  to  be  a steadily  increasing  ratio  of 
this  form  of  insanity,  not  only  here  but  throughout  the  civil- 
ized world.  A glance  at  our  table  will  show  the  great 
increase  in  Connecticut  during  the  past  seventeen  years.  It 
stands  at  the  head  of  the  list  (see  table  XXII)  in  causation 
of  death  in  17  cases.  Tubercular  consumption  ranks  next, 
with  12;  exhaustion  from  mania,  7 ; disease  of  the  heart,  6 ; 
old  age,  6 ; cancer,  5 ; apoplexy,  4 ; marasmus,  4 ; Bright’s 
disease  of  the  kidneys,  3 ; meningitis,  3 ; epileptic  coma,  2 ; 
empyema,  2;  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  2;  pneumonia,  2; 


345 


abscess  of  liver,  2,  and  1 each  from  chronic  cystitis  and 
abscess  of  tonsils. 

The  total  number  of  deaths  (80)  exceeds  that  of  the  next 
preceding  year  by  one,  but  you  have  already  learned  that  the 
average  number  of  patients  present  was  much  larger,  hence 
the  ratio  is  less. 

The  record  of  the  year  was  not  marred  by  suicides  or  fatal 
accidents,  for  which  exemption  I am  profoundly  thankful. 
One  of  the  severest  strains  in  the  life  of  the  officers  who  are 
responsible  for  the  management  of  such  an  institution,  is  the 
constant  liability  to  such  occurrences. 


Deaths  and  their  Ratios  from  May  1,  1868,  to  Nov.  30,  1883. 


c3 

a) 

<v 

S3  02 

fc  c 

Daily  Average  No. 
of  Patients. 

DEATHS. 

<D  . 

oB 

& 3 

S3  cl 

OpL, 

>> 

"5  o 
P 6 

° 33  02 

ro3 

O 

SE 

O 

<v  .£ 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

§ 

« o 

PH 

1868-69, 

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17.57 

1869-70, 

343 

225.17 

18 

3 

21 

6.12 

9.32 

1870-71, 

307 

237. 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72, 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-73, 

336 

264.53 

12 

9 

21 

6.25 

7.86 

1873-74, 

524 

239.51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75, 

605 

425.80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76, 

616 

452.64 

26 

7 

33 

* 5.35 

7.31 

1876,  8 mos., 
Dec.  1,  ’76. 

548 

456.97 

9 

6 

15 

2.73 

3.28 

Nov.  30,  ’77, 

619 

463.88 

19 

12 

31 

5.01 

6.69 

1877-78, 

629 

474.17 

27 

13 

40 

6.36 

8.43 

1878-79, 

644 

498.34 

9 

10 

19 

2.95 

3.81 

1879-80, 

654 

514.63 

16 

14 

30 

4.58 

5.82 

1880-81, 

881 

608.51 

32 

12 

44 

5.00 

7.24 

1881-82, 

1079 

789.27 

47 

32 

79 

7.32 

10.01 

1882-83, 

1113 

854.5 

43 

37 

80 

7.18 

9.36 

The  average  age  of  all  who  died  was  51.40  years.  Three  had 
survived  90  years  ; three  were  between  80  and  90 ; eight  be- 
tween 70  and  80.  The  two  oldest  were  respectively  93,  and 
the  next  in  her  91st  year.  To  her  memory  is  due  something 
more  than  this  formal  record  ; for  she  had  been  to  all  of  us 


346 


what  only  “Auntie  Judd”  could  be  : a good,  kind,  industri- 
ous, Christian  woman,  whose  words,  though  sometimes  sharp 
and  incisive,  were  generally  quotations  from  the  Book  of 
Books.  For  a period  of  twenty  years  she  had  lying  in  her 
bureau  drawer  a shroud  prepared  by  herself,  ready  for  the 
final  event  of  life.  Many  a visitor  carried  away  tokens  of  re- 
membrance in  the  form  of  “ flat-iron  holders  ” made  by  the 
active  fingers  of  this  good  old  lady,  whose  eyes  were  keen 
and  sparkling  at  the  age  of  90.  We  shall  not  soon  forget 
the  witty  speeches  and  ready  repartee  of  old  “Auntie  Judd.” 

The  number  of  applications  for  admission  exceeded  that  of 
any  previous  year,  although  the  actual  number  admitted  is 
less  than  that  of  the  preceding  year,  simply  because  the  hos- 
pital has  been  overcrowded  at  all  times,  notwithstanding  our 
increased  accommodations,  and  applicants  had  to  wait  until 
vacancies  occurred.  It  thus  happened  that  some  persons  were 
provided  for  elsewhere,  or  died  before  their  turn  was  reached. 
At  this  date  there  are  34  applicants  waiting. 

The  total  number  receiving  treatment  (1,113)  exceeds  that 
of  any  previous  year  by  34. 

Of  these  only  11  were  paying  patients ; 328  were  “ indi- 
gents,” supported  jointly  by  the  State  and  their  friends,  and 
774  were  “ paupers,”  or  those  who  were  chargeable  wholly  to 
the  State  or  towns.  The  amount  received  per  week  for  these 
various  classes  is  the  same  (with  one  exception),  and  in  prac- 
tice no  distinction  is  made,  except  in  rare  instances  where 
the  urgent  symptoms  requires  the  employment  of  special 
attendants. 

Thus  occasionally  a pauper’s  expenses  cost  the  institution 
at  least  twelve  dollars  per  week,  while  the  amount  received 
was  only  four.  This  brief  summary  shows  how  thoroughly 
the  daily  life  of  this  institution  is  being  conformed  to  the  in- 
tent of  its  founders,  viz.,  to  provide,  primarily , a good  hos- 
pital home  for  the  poor  and  needy  and  those  in  moderate 
circumstances. 

Of  the  admissions,  193  were  first  admissions  to  this  or  any 
hospital,  78  were  re-admissions,  having  been  patients  at  this 


347 


or  some  similar  institution  at  an  earlier  date.  Some  of  the 
latter  class  have  been  admitted  and  discharged  so  many 
times  from  this  or  other  hospitals  that  their  checkered  lives 
resemble  a patchwork  of  sanity  and  insanity,  suggesting  the 
-query,  whether  it  would  not  conserve  the  ends  of  humanity 
and  justice,  enhance  their  happiness,  and  lessen  the  danger 
and  annoyance  to  community,  to  have  them  permanently 
committed  to  a hospital  for  the  insane.  These  patients  are 
always  benefited  by  the  regularity  of  hospital  life,  so  that 
they  go  out  apparently  sane  ; but  a few  weeks  or  months  of 
freedom  and  license  always  upsets  them  ,and  brings  them 
back  to  us  in  a worse  state  than  at  first,  and  the  whole  work 
has  to  be  gone  over  again. 

HEREDITARY  TENDENCY. 

Such  experiences  also  suggest  an  inquiry  respecting  the 
probable  cause  of  such  persistent  mental  disturbance  where 
there  is  so  much  apparent  sanity.  The  friends  always  attrib- 
ute it  to  some  trivial  occurrence  such  as  loss  of  property,  dis- 
appointment, fright,  etc.,  thus  seeming  to  find  relief  and  com- 
fort in  bringing  it  into  the  category  of  ordinary  events,  where 
cause  and  effect  prevail.  While  these  accidental  circum- 
stances may  have  been  the  last  u straws,”  1 think  we  must 
admit  in  these  cases  original  weakness  of  brain,  and  recog- 
nize the  fact  that  if  weakness  or  predisposition  are  transmit- 
ted at  all,  there  must  be  more  chance  of  brain  weakness  be- 
ing transmitted  than  of  any  other  organ,  because  it  is  the 
most  delicate  and  highly  organized  structure  in  the  body.  It 
is  here  that  the  anxieties  of  life,  the  struggle  for  existence 
chiefly  act ; it  is  here  that  the  exhaustion  from  intemperance 
and  dissipation  and  bad  lives  takes  effect.  But  to  assert  that 
this  transmitted  disease  is  a fixed  and  invariable  law  is  con- 
trary to  daily  experience.  Every  thoughtful  mind  must  rec- 
ognize the  fact  that  nature  tends  to  propagate  the  good  rather 
than  the  bad  qualities,  and  that  in  a majority  of  cases  the  fit- 
test will  survive  the  struggle,  thus  continually  leading  up  to 
a sounder  type. 


348 


CAUSATION. 

In  the  causation  of  insanity  there  are  so  many  complicated 
factors  entering  into  the  problem  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
unravel  the  tangled  web.  When  we,  therefore,  attempt  to 
classify  in  tables  the  causes,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that 
we  have  merely  given  one  event  in  the  life  of  the  individual 
which  has  probably  exercised  more  influence  than  some  other 
links  in  the  chain  of  causation.  The  causes  recorded  in  the 
histories  are  often  incorrect  and  misleading,  because  the 
friends  of  patients  overlook  the  fact,  or  object  to  give  it, 
when  in  any  way  it  tends  to  compromise  the  dignity  or 
belittle  the  moral  character  of  the  individual.  Hence  all 
statistics  respecting  special  vices,  or  the  use  of  stimulants  or 
narcotics,  as  causes  of  insanity  should  be  accepted  with  many 
grains  of  allowance.  This  is  especially  true  of  intemper- 
ance. Our  tables — based  on  the  histories  obtained  from 
friends — only  show  about  eleven  percent,  of  cases  from  this 
cause.  But  other  facts  that  reach  us  while  these  patients  are 
under  treatment,  and  the  peculiar  character  of  their  mental 
disturbances,  prove  beyond  question  that  a much  larger 
number  should  be  included  under  this  head.  I sometimes 
question  the  policy  of  admitting  patients  of  this  class  to 
ordinary  hospitals  for  the  insane.  That  they  are  “ mad  as 
March  hares”  is  undeniable;  that  they  are  benefited  by  re- 
straint is  equally  true  ; but  that  they  are  insane  in  the  sense 
that  the  maniac  or  melancholiac  is  insane,  I deny.  A few 
days  of  seclusion  at  a hospital  or  elsewhere,  and  an  absence 
of  the  customary  stimulant,  restores  the  digestive  organs  to 
comparative  health ; food  is  retained  and  assimilated,  other 
organs  perform  their  normal  functions,  and  the  man  is 
“ clothed  and  in  his  right  mind.”  They  soon  think  it  hard 
and  unnecessary  to  remain  among  the  insane,  and  if  re- 
strained become  troublesome  and  officious  meddlers.  In  any 
event,  under  our  present  laws,  they  cannot  be  retained  long 
enough  to  effect  a permanent  cure  ; hence,  when  leaving  the 
hospital,  we  always  classify  them  among  those  whose  mental 
condition  is  recorded  as  “ stationary.” 


349 


THE  EPILEPTIC  INSANE. 

Before  leaving  this  division  of  my  report,  I desire  to  call 
your  attention  to  a class  of  the  insane  for  which  special 
arrangements  should  be  made.  I refer  to  the  epileptic  insane. 
Epilepsy  does  not  always  cause  insanity.  Many  epileptics 
pass  through  long  and  useful  lives,  with  more  or  less  enfeeble- 
ment  of  mind,  but  no  insanity.  Such  patients  rarely  reach 
the  hospital.  The  class  I wish  to  provide  for  is  a large  one, 
whose  subjects  have  periods  of  maniacal  excitement  preced- 
ing or  following  the  epileptic  .seizure,  and  lasting  days  or 
weeks,  during  which  they  are  the  most  irritable,  unreliable, 
and  dangerous  patients  to  be  found  in  our  hospitals.  The 
least  emotional  disturbance  causes  an  outburst  of  maniacal 
fury  which  may  end  in  homicide  or  suicide.  Nearly  all  the 
accidents  to  life  in  hospitals  for  the  insane  are  the  result  of 
epilepsy. 

The  destruction  by  fire  of  many  institutions  can  be  traced 
to  the  incendiary  attempts  of  these  patients.  No  ordinary 
precautions  avail  to  secure  safety,  simply  because  there  is  no 
uniformity  or  periodicity  of  attack  in  this  disease. 

The  epileptic  maniac  who,  perhaps,  for  weeks  has  been  an 
amiable  Christian  gentleman,  kind,  helpful,  and  affectionate, 
in  a moment,  without  warning,  in  chapel,  at  the  table,  or 
while  out  walking,  becomes  a furious  maniac,  possessed  of 
herculean  strength,  with  which  he  destroys  clothing,  furni- 
ture, buildings,  and  even  life  itself.  In  the  presence  of  such 
patients  the  price  of  safety  is  something  more  than  constant 
vigilance.  The  shock  and  fright  caused  by  unexpectedly 
witnessing  an  epileptic  seizure  has  done  irreparable  injury  to 
convalescent  patients.  Looking  at  these  facts  from  the 
standpoint  of  common  sense  and  common  decency,  I ask  you 
what  excuse  can  be  made  for  placing  such  cases  in  the  wards 
of  a hospital  with  ordinary  insane  patients?  The  philan- 
thropic spirit  of  the  age  demands  cheerful  halls,  large 
windows,  light  furniture,  open  doors,  and  the  total  abolition 
of  mechanical  appliances  for  personal  restraint.  And  these 
demands  are  just  and  correct  when  applied  to  the  great  prin- 


350 


ciples  which  should  govern  us  in  the  treatment  of  ordinary 
cases  of  insanity.  But  I have  already  shown  you  that  this  is  a 
special  class,  requiring  special  care,  and  should  be  provided 
for  in  a separate  and  special  manner.  If  this  report  is  to 
have  any  force  of  meaning  at  all  let  me  urge  you  to  emphasize 
this  one  fact  over  and  above  all  others,  so  as  to  secure  an 
appropriation  for  another  separate  building,  which  may  be 
planned  and  adapted  to  the  safe  keeping  and  more  particular 
treatment  of  the  epileptic  insane.  Such  a building  can  be 
constructed  in  a plain,  substantial  manner,  with  the  special 
arrangements  I have  hinted  at,  at  a cost  much  below  that 
required  in  the  ordinary  hospital. 

We  have  at  this  date  67  epileptic  patients,  and  the  number 
is  steadily  increasing.  If  these  were  transferred  to  a new 
building  room  would  be  had  to  admit  promptly  all  new  cases 
of  insanity  as  they  occur,  thus  avoiding  the  tedious  and 
often  expensive  delays  which  are  now  necessary.  It  surely 
would  be  to  the  honor  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  to  inaugu- 
rate the  system  of  segregating  the  epileptic  from  the  com- 
mon forms  of  insanity.  Our  new  South  Hospital  for  the 
chronic  insane  has  been  occupied  more  than  two  years. 
This  experience  convinces  me  that  the  plan  of  supplemental 
buildings  adjacent  to  the  central  hospital  is  the  true  solution 
to  that  most  difficult  problem  of  how  best  to  provide  for  the 
chronic  insane.  In  this  respect  we  followed  the  lead  of  the 
Willard  Asylum  at  Ovid,  N.  Y.  Since  then  Dr.  Godding  has 
adopted  the  same  policy  at  the  Government  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  at  Washington,  D.  C.  And  now  the  State  of  Illinois 
is  erecting  buildings  at  Jacksonville  modeled  after  the  plans 
of  our  new  South  Hospital.  Let  me  not  be  misunderstood. 
In  advocating  this  plan  of  separate  buildings  I deem  it  of 
paramount  importance  that  each  building  should  be  large 
enough  to  employ  all  of  the  time  and  best  energies  of  an 
assistant  physician,  who,  with  his  family,  should  reside  in  the 
building  and  be  responsible  to  the  superintendent  for  its 
proper  detail  management. 

In  this  respect,  you  observe,  it  is  quite  unlike  the  objection- 


351 


able  “ cottage  system  ” in  vogue  at  Oheel,  where  the  patients 
are  scattered  about  in  the  hamlets  of  peasants,  wholly  at  the 
mercy  of  ignorant  and  irresponsible  persons. 

IMBECILES  AND  IDIOTS. 

There  is  also  another  class  of  patients  which  should  be  re- 
moved from  the  wards  occupied  by  acute  and  curable  cases. 
I refer  to  the  imbeciles  and  idiots  who  from  birth  have  been 
defective.  We  have  at  all  times  about  fifty  of  this  class, 
nearly  all  of  whom  are  young,  and  the  number  is  steadily  in- 
creasing. These  patients  require  custodial  care  rather  than 
medical  treatment.  The  trouble  is  congenital,  and  cannot 
be  removed.  Their  appearance  and  habits  are,  as  a rule, 
repulsive  and  depressing  to  those  occupying  the  same  wards. 
I would,  therefore,  earnestly  recommend  that  in  planning  a 
new  building  for  the  epileptic  insane  special  wards  be  pro- 
vided for  this  class,  where  they  can  have  proper  care  and 
educational  training  and  at  the  same  time  be  separated  from 
the  convalescent  patients.  All  persons  with  experience 
have  come,  or  are  surely  coming,  to  the  conclusion  that  this 
plan  which  1 have  briefly  outlined  is  the  only  one  to  prevent 
the  curative  hospital  from  getting  blocked  up  by  incurables. 

The  social  and  legislative  movement  which  has  provided 
schools,  hospitals,  reformatories,  and  asylums  for  all  who 
need  them  is  one  of  the  distinguishing  characteristics  of  the 
Christianized  civilization  of  this  age.  They  are  undeniably  a 
“ burden  to  the  community,  but  it  is  simply  the  community 
taking  and  doing  better  what  fell  on  individuals  before.” 

DISCHARGES. 

Of  the  173  patients  discharged  72  had  been  restored  to 
mental  and  physical  health,  and  were  able  to  resume  their 
natural  and  useful  places  in  society.  Of  this  number  53  re- 
covered from  the  first  attack,  11  from  the  second,  2 from  the 
third,  5 from  the  fourth,  and  1 from  the  sixth.  All  previous 
attacks  were  in  years  not  covered  by  this  report,  and  it  should 
be  noticed  that  in  all  our  tables  and  records  the  number 


352 


of  cases  corresponds  to  the  number  of  individuals ; that  is,  a 
person  appears  only  once  in  any  fiscal  year.  If  discharged 
and  readmitted  within  the  year,  he  resumes  his  former  regis- 
ter number.  Of  all  those  who  recovered  the  average  dura- 
tion of  treatment  in  hospital  was  eight  months  and  four  days. 
The  shortest  period  was  twenty -three  days  and  the  longest  six 
years  seven  months  and  fourteen  days.  This  unusual  result 
serves  to  confirm  the  old  adage  that  there  is  an  exception  to 
every  rule.  It  also  gives  a breath  of  hope  to  the  anxious  friends 
in  every  case,  and  to  us  encouragement  to  labor  on  even 
under  most  unpromising  conditions.  All  experience  proves 
that  insanity  is  curable,  if  at  all,vin  the  first  year.  Rarely, 
indeed,  do  recoveries  occur  after  the  disease  has  lasted  two 
years.  In  many  cases,  it  is  true,  the  acute  symptoms  sub- 
side, but  the  individual  remains  during  life  partially  en- 
feebled, like  the  tree  stripped  of  its  foliage  by  the  tornado 
that  has  passed  over  it.  Here,  however,  was  one  of  those 
exceptional  cases.  An  individual  of  more  than  average 
ability  passed  through  six  and  one-half  years  of  the  most 
pronounced  maniacal  excitement  (noisy,  destructive,  and 
turbulent),  and  finally  emerged  from  mental  chaos  into  the 
full  sunlight  of  reason  with  faculties  undimmed,  affections  un- 
sullied— thankful,  hopeful,  and  courageous,  as  she  again 
resumed  her  lot  in  life.  May  we  not  reasonably  consider  the 
blotting  out  of  all  these  horrible  realities  from  the  memory 
of  this  individual  as  a wise  interposition  lest  the  recollection 
of  them  should  shadow  and  sadden  her  whole  life  ? 

Of  the  173  persons  discharged  42  were  reported  as  “much 
improved.”  Doubtless  some  of  these  patients  will  return  to 
us,  but  the  majority  will  continue  on  to  complete  recovery. 
Where  the  home  surroundings  are  cheerful  and  helpful  we 
always  urge  the  early  discharge  of  convalescent  patients. 
Good  judgment  should,  however,  be  exercised  in  this  matter. 
It  sometimes  happens  that  a return  to  the  home  atmosphere, 
with  all  its  joys  and  cares,  before  complete  restoration,  tends 
to  retard  recovery  if  it  does  not  cause  a relapse. 

Under  the  head  of  “stationary”  are  included  those  previ- 


353 


ously  mentioned  as  not  insane,  also  cases  of  dementia,  also 
the  quiet,  chronic  insane,  who  from  time  to  time  are  re- 
moved by  the  selectmen  to  make  room  for  more  urgent  cases. 
While  the  hospital  has  been  overcrowded  at  all  times,  the  se- 
lectmen of  towns  have  been  officially  notified  that  they  could 
bring  acute  or  dangerous  cases  without  previous  application 
by  simply  removing  one  of  their  quiet  chronic  patients.  How 
good  a boon  this  privilege  is  can  only  be  appreciated  by 
those  who  have  been  through  the  ordeal  of  caring  for  an 
acute  case  of  mania  or  melancholia  when  suddenly  developed. 

GENERAL  HISTORY. 

Standing  at  the  close  of  another  year,  it  is  pleasant  to  note 
the  comfort  and  general  satisfaction  apparent  among  our 
patients  in  a more  marked  degree  than  during  any  previous 
twelve  months. 

It  may  seem  paradoxical  to  assert  that  any  one  away  from 
home,  suffering  from  mental  disease,  and  partially  restricted 
of  personal  liberty,  can  be  looked  upon  as  measurably  happy  ; 
and  yet  such  is  the  fact.  The  quietness  and  regularity  of 
hospital  life  often  brings  a sense  of  restfulness  to  the  over- 
stimulated  or  exhausted  brain,  which  is  more  efficacious  than 
medical  treatment,  and  more  conducive  to  happiness  than 
other  natural  conditions  and  remedies  which  would,  under 
ordinary  circumstances,  be  of  paramount  importance.  It  is 
also  true  that  the  hallucinations  and  delusions  of  many  insane 
persons  are  of  an  exalted,  or  at  least,  pleasing  nature.  While 
living  under  their  influence  the  duties  and  worries  of  every- 
day life  assume  a roseate  tint,  so  that  the  ordinary  civilities 
become,  in  his  exalted  view,  marks  of  homage  and  respect 
paid  to  a superior  being.  In  some  forms  of  insanity,  even 
the  pains  of  disease  tend  to  create  pleasurable  emotions,  and 
the  man  who  is  tottering  in  the  last  stages  of  paresis  actually 
boasts  of  his  power  and  wealth. 

Such  cases  are  exceptional. 

It  still  remains  true  that  the  majority  of  all  insane  persons 
are  depressed  and  unhappy.  What  I wish  to  say  is,  that  in 
23 


354 


caring  for  our  large  household  during  the  past  twelve  months 
there  has  been  an  atmosphere  of  contentment  pervading  the 
whole  house,  which  is  indicative  of  the  same  friendly  feeling 
which  should  pervade  every  home  circle. 

This  would  seem  to  be  made  apparent  also  by  the  fact  that 
fewer  changes  have  occurred  in  the  staff  of  attendants  and 
employes,  and  I am  able  to  report  a number  of  ^worthy,  intel- 
ligent, and  faithful  persons  who  have  been  with  us  periods 
extending  from  three  to  fourteen  years.  By  frequent  vaca- 
tions and  special  privileges  granted  to  those  who  are  adapted 
to  the  work,  I have  endeavored  to  encourage  and  retain  all 
who  are  faithful. 

REPAIRS  AND  IMPROVEMENTS. 

Never  before  in  twelve  months  has  so  much  been  done  in 
addition  to  and  renovation  of  the  wards.  New  floors  were  laid 
in  four  corriders  of  the  old  south  wing.  Four  skylights 
were  placed  over  the  clothes  rooms  of  two  upper  halls. 
Brick  partition  walls  were  carried  up  through  six  dormitories, 
thus  giving  twenty-two  new  single  rooms  in  the  main  hospi- 
tal. Walls  have  been  painted  and  the  wood-work  varnished 
anew  in  five  wards.  But  the  most  important  improvement 
was  the  erection  of  an  infirmary  building  of  two  stories  at 
the  north  end  of  the  female  wards,  planned  and  fitted  for  the 
special  treatment  of  twenty-four  acute,  or  noisy  patients,  in 
as  many  single  rooms,  arranged  on  one  side  of  the  corridor. 
By  a single  contrivance  of  sliding  doors  these  two  wards  can 
be  made  into  six,  thus  enabling  us  to  classify  and  separate  these 
cases  while  retaining  all  the  advantages  and  conveniences  of 
the  congregate  system.  The  erection  of  this  building  com- 
pletes on  the  north  side  the  plan  of  the  hospital  as  adopted 
by  you  in  1866.  With  these  recent  renovations,  reconstruc- 
tions, and  additions,  this  institution  is  kept  fully  abreast  of 
the  most  recent  ideas  of  construction  of  a modern  hospital 
for  the  insane.  During  this  period  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  farming  interests  and  the  increase  of  stock 
necessitated  the  building  of  a new  and  much  larger  piggery 


355 


and  slaughter-house.  These  have  been  conveniently  located 
between  the  large  farm  barns  on  ground  which  slopes  towards 
the  east.  Here,  in  the  care  of  cows,  horses,  and  pigs,  and  in 
light  farm  work,  many  convalescent  and  quiet  chronic  patients 
find  pleasant,  healthful  employment  during  a portion  of  every 
day,  thus  contributing  something  to  the  general  support. 
For  a complete  record  of  stock  and  farm  products,  I would 
refer  you  to  the  accompanying  farmer’s  report. 

The  record  of  improvements  would  be  incomplete  without 
mention  being  made  of  our  new  coal  shed  and  hoisting  ap- 
paratus. Under  your  direction  a substantial  building,  large 
enough  to  hold  3,000  tons  of  coal,  was  erected  adjacent  to 
the  hospital  dock,  the  two  being  connected  by  a track,  on 
which  a car  is  run  by  Hunt’s  automatic  apparatus.  We 
can  now  receive  our  coal  in  summer  without  interrupting 
farm  work,  and  haul  it  whenever  the  teams  are  not  required 
elsewhere. 

ELOPEMENTS. 

Nearly  all  of  the  forty  persons  who  eloped  during  the  year 
were  either  quiet  farm  laborers  or  convalescents  on  unlimited 
parole.  All  but  three  returned  to  the  hospital,  or  were  sent 
back  after  a few  days’  absence.  Two  reached  home  safely, 
so  much  improved  that  it  was  considered  best  to  have  them 
remain.  Only  one  is  still  at  large,  unaccounted  for  ; and  his 
derangement  is  of  such  a character  that  no  harm  need  be 
anticipated. 

THE  FARM. 

Owing  to  the  long-continued  drought,  the  usual  crop  per 
acre  of  some  farm  products  was  not  realized.  As,  however, 
we  had  more  land  under  cultivation,  and  were  able  to  em- 
ploy more  patients  in  this  way,  the  sum  total  of  products 
equals  that  of  any  previous  year.  Our  experience  with 
ensilage  during  the  two  preceding  winters  convinced  us  of  its 
great  value.  A silo  of  200  tons  capacity  was  completed  in 
July  and  filled  with  green  corn  fodder  in  September. 


356 


FINANCIAL  EXHIBIT. 

The  treasurer’s  report  and  our  table  of  receipts  and  ex- 
penditures show  that  the  annual  earnings  of  the  hospital  have 
been  sufficient  to  meet  all  the  expenses  of  maintenance, 
together  with  such  repairs  and  improvements  as  heretofore 
mentioned.  This  favorable  result  has  been  owing  to  a 
marked  decline  in  the  price  of  staple  provisions  and  other 
necessary  supplies,  together  with  exact  economy  in  all  de- 
partments. 

You  have  wisely  decided  to  reduce  the  price  of  board  from 
four  dollars  per  week  to  three  dollars  and  seventy-five  cents 
from  this  date.  This  reduction,  which  amounts  to  something 
over  $10,000  for  the  year,  can  be  made  without  lessening  the 
comfort  of  the  patients  in  the  way  of  diet  or  accommodations, 
provided  the  price  of  supplies  remains  about  the  same  as  at 
this  date.  All  bills  against  the  hospital  are  audited  and  paid 
on  the  first  Saturday  of  each  month.  We  are  thus  able  to 
purchase  for  cash  at  the  lowest  wholesale  rates. 

SUNDAY  RELIGIOUS  SERVICES. 

The  following  clergymen  kindly  conducted  the  chapel  ser- 
vices during  the  year : 

Rev.  T.  W.  Coit,  D.D.,  . . . Middletown,  Conn. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Beach,  D.D.,  . . . . “ 

Rev.  F.  M.  Houghton,  ....  “ 

Rev.  John  Townsend,  ....  “ 

Rev.  George  Lyon,  .....  Boston,  Mass. 

Rev.  Samuel  Hopley,  ....  Middletown,  Conn. 

Rev.  C.  S.  Harrington,  D.D., 

Rev.  J.  P.  Gordy,  . 

R<?v.  C.  J.  Hill, 

Rev.  A.  W.  Hazen, 

Rev.  B.  A.  Smith,  . 

Rev.  John  Binney,  . 

Rev.  C.  A.  Piddock, 

Rev.  F.  S.  Hoffman, 

Rev.  A.  W.  Wyatt, 

Rev.  C.  L.  Loomis, 

Rev.  Frederic  Gardiner,  D.D., 

Rev.  M.  S.  Dudley,  . 


Cromwell,  Conn. 


357 


Rev.  S.  H,  Dana, 

Rev.  C.  H.  Bond,  . 

Rev.  C.  Holman, 

Rev.  J.  W.  Tuck,  . 

Rev.  Wm.  B.  Walker, 
Rev.  S.  A.  Hayt, 

Rev.  Geo.  Stevens,  Ph.D., 
Rev.  P.  M.  Snyder, 

Rev.  Wm.  Smith,  . 

Rev.  H.  R.  Phoenix, 

Rev.  R.  L.  de  Zeng, 


Quincy,  111. 
Middletown,  Conn. 


Augusta,  Ga. 
Watertown,  N.  Y. 

Carthage,  N.  Y. 
Hudson,  N.  Y. 
Middletown,  Conn. 


ENTERTAINMENTS. 


During  the  summer  months,  when  patients  and  attendants 
spend  several  hours  every  pleasant  day  out  of  doors,  no 
effort  is  made  to  have  indoor  evening  entertainments.  It 
seems  so  much  more  pleasant  to  sit  in  the  arbor,  to  enjoy 
the  swings,  or  to  wander  about  the  lawn  just  at  the  twilight 
hour,  that  we  have  from  year  to  year  extended  these  privi- 
leges until  they  are  now  enjoyed  by  all. 

From  October  until  May  much  attention  is  given  to  the 
evening  entertainments.  These  comprise  lectures,  readings, 
concerts,  plays,  dances,  and  roller  skating.  I am  under 
deep  obligations  to  the  officers  and  attendants  who  have 
cheerfully  assisted  in  this  work,  and  especially  to  our 
friends  from  the  city  who  have  kindly  given  their  time  and 
services.  The  following  is  a partial  list  of  such  persons,  and 
a programme  of  the  entertainments  : 


Sociable,  with  dancing,  . . . . .12  evenings. 

Lectures,  illustrated  with  Stereopticon,  . . 3 

Roller  Skating,  . . . . . 17  “ 

Dramatic  Entertainments,  Hospital  Troupe,  . 4 

Concert,  Hospital  Orchestra,  assisted  by  Mrs.  E.  B.  Smith, 

Miss  Sanderson,  and  Master  Freddie  Wilbur,  . 1 “ 

“ Mr.  Camp  and  Family,  . . . 1 “ 

Operetta  and  Concert,  Hospital  Troupe,  . . 1 “ 

Reading  and  Concert,  Will  Brewer,  Miss  Mary  Brewer, 

and  Miss  Borgelt,  . . . 1 

Masquerade,  . . . . . . 2 “ 

Children’s  Dancing  Class,  . . . . 1 

Lecture,  Edward  Douglas,  “ Foreign  Travel,”  . 1 “ 

“ “ Rural  England,”  Rev.  W.  L.  Gage,  D.D.,  . 1 “ 

“ “ An  Old  Castle,”  Prof.  Winchester,  . 1 “ 


358 


Lecture  and  Concert,  Miss  Radcliffe,  assisted  by  Mrs. 


Post,  Miss  Chaffee,  and  Mr.  Tateum,  . . 1 evening. 

“ “ The  Phonograph,”  J.  W.  Harmon,  . 1 “ 

Reading,  and  Christmas  Tree,  Mr.  Lyon,  Jr.,  . . 1 “ 

“ Miss  Annie  Walter,  . . . 1 “ 

“ Miss  Nettie  Taylor,  . . . . 1 “ 

“ Henrietta  Vinton  Davis  (colored),  . 1 “ 


DONATIONS. 

I acknowledge  with  sincere  pleasure  the  receipt  of  many 
gifts  for  the  patients,  as  an  index  of  the  growing  interest 
manifested  by  thoughtful  people  in  this  important  charity. 
If  it  were  generally  known  how  much  good  could  be  accom- 
plished in  this  way  I am  sure  our  shelves  would  be  stocked 
with  books  and  the  walls  covered  by  engravings,  much  to 
the  improvement  of  wards  and  general  comfort  of  the  in- 
mates. 

There  have  been  received  from  Mr.  R.  S.  Fellowes,  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  subscription  for  the  year,  three  copies  of  the 
u Sailors’  Magazine,”  and  six  copies  “ Sunday  Reading.” 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Monroe  of  Southport,  Conn.,  two  packages  of 
books  and  magazines,  $25  for  books,  and  $100  towards  the 
purchase  of  a piano  for  the  chapel. 

Senator  Joseph  R.  Hawley,  Washington,  reports  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  for  1881  and  1882. 

H.  D.  A.  Ward,  Esq.,  Middletown,  several  volumes,  maga- 
zines and  illustrated  papers. 

Mrs.  F.  A.  Ward,  Middletown,  packages  of  illustrated 
papers. 

Mrs.  Thomas  G.  Mather,  Middletown,  papers  and  maga- 
zines. 

Middletown  and  Vicinity  Bible  Society,  31  Bibles. 

The  Hon.  Robbins  Battell,  Norfolk,  Conn.,  the  chime  of 
bells  and  quarter-hour  attachments  for  the  tower  clock. 

And  to  the  many  friends  who  have  thoughtfully  contributed 
papers,  books,  and  magazines  to  the  hospital  box  kindly 
allowed  to  be  placed  in  Mr.  Hastings’  book  store. 

To  the  publishers  of  the  following  newspapers  we  owe  a 


359 


debt  of  gratitude  for  having  furnished  copies  gratuitously 
during  the  year : 


The  Courant,  daily, 

The  Post,  daily, 

The  Palladium,  weekly, 

The  Times,  weekly, 

Tolland  County  Journal,  weekly, 
Sheltering  Arms,  monthly, 

The  Constitution,  weekly, 
Sentinel  and  Witness,  weekly, 
Sabbath  Reading,  weekly, 

The  Enterprise,  weekly, 

The  Review,  weekly,  . 
Bridgeport  Standard,  weekly, 
Religious  Herald,  weekly, 
Weekly  Witness,  weekly, 

The  Herald,  daily, 


. Hartford,  Conn. 

do.  do. 

. New  Haven,  do. 

. Hartford,  do. 

. Rockville,  do. 

. New  York  city. 

. Middletown,  Conn. 

do.  do. 

. New  York  city. 

. Naugatuck,  Conn. 

do.  do. 

. Bridgeport,  do. 

. Hartford,  do. 

. New  York  city. 

. Middletown,  Conn. 


No  changes  have  occurred  in  the  staff  of  officers  since 
your  last  meeting.  It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  report  and 
commend  their  zeal,  efficiency,  and  intelligent  co-operation. 
Those  who  live  with,  and  work  for  the  insane,  and  do  their 
work  well,  enjoy  no  beds  of  ease  or  idleness.  The  life  is  one 
of  anxious  cares  and  stern  realities,  extending  alike  over 
Sundays  and  holidays.  Fortunately  there  are  compensating 
possibilities  even  in  such  a work ; and  I should  be  wanting 
in  gratitude  if  I failed  to  acknowledge  the  obligation  under 
which  you  have  placed  us  by  your  unvarying  kindness  and 
ready  support. 

Kespectfully  submitted, 


A.  M.  SHEW,  M.D., 

Superintendent. 


Middletown,  Conn.,  Nov.  30, 1883. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  Greneral  Asseinbly  of  the  State  of  Con - 
necticut : 

The  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane  are 
permitted  herewith  to  make  their  nineteenth  annual  report. 

The  hospital  has  been  favored  in  the  good  providence  of 
the  Heavenly  Father,  with  another  year  of  quietness,  har- 
mony, and  prosperity,  in  the  humane  work  for  which  it 
was  founded.  Generally  the  health  of  the  patients  has  been 
good.  They  have  escaped  contagious  diseases. 

The  excellent  order,  thorough  system,  and  surprising  neat- 
ness maintained  in  the  buildings,  and  around  them,  attract 
the  attention  of  visitors  from  this  and  other  States. 

In  the  summer  and  autumn  the  abundance  and  variety  of 
flowers  in  beds  tastefully  arranged  on  the  broad  lawn  are  an 
unfailing  source  of  pleasure. 

The  aim  of  the  hospital  is  to  receive  so  far  as  possible 
every  citizen  of  Connecticut,  whose  mental  condition  ren- 
ders necessary  its  protection  and  care,  that  restoration  to 
health  and  sound  mind  may  be  speedy  and  complete  ; or  if 
that  may  not  be,  to  give  the  patient  the  benefit  of  the  most 
careful  attendance  under  the  direction  of  the  highest  medical 
skill. 

Those  who  administer  the  affairs  of  the  institution  have  no 
motive  to  receive  or  detain  any  person  who  is  not  a proper 
subject  of  sanitary  treatment.  The  number  usually  waiting 
to  be  received  is  a strong  reason  for  discharging  any  pa- 
tient, so  soon  as  his  own  good  and  the  safety  of  others  wTill 
permit. 

Many  are  allowed  to  go  before  they  are  fully  restored,  be- 
cause a marked  improvement  is  apparent,  and  it  is  probable 
they  can  be  properly  cared  for  by  friends. 


361 


In  order  to  make  immediate  room  for  an  acute  case  of  re- 
cent occurrence,  it  lias  repeatedly  been  necessary  to  return  to 
the  almshouse  a person  who  has  not  recovered,  but  who  may 
without  injury  be  away  from  the  hospital  for  a limited  time. 
Such  a case  is  frequently  only  the  less  of  two  evils,  because 
the  patient  sent  to  the  poorhouse  is  liable  to  suffer  for  lack 
of  care,  and  the  family  to  which  he  goes  to  be  troubled  by 
his  presence. 

The  number  of  persons  in  need  of  the  aid  of  the  hospital 
is  year  by  year  increasing.  It  has  been  greater  in  the  past 
year  than  ever  before. 

The  whole  number  under  its  care  during  the  year  was 
1,103. 

The  number  remaining  on  the  30th  of  November  was  923. 

The  addition  to  the  north  wing,  built  especially  for  noisy 
patients,  was  completed  in  the  spring.  It  has  twenty-four 
beds,  and  is  abundantly  supplied  with  light  and  air.  The 
carpenters,  masons,  and  other  builders,  did  their  work  well. 
The  removal  of  the  very  noisy  patients  for  a longer  or 
shorter  period  to  this  ward,  is  a sensible  and  grateful  relief  to 
the  patients  and  attendants  in  the  wards  from  which  these 
are  taken.  This  is  one  of  the  incidental  advantages  of  a large 
hospital  with  many  wards,  which  admits  of  a completeness  of 
classification  impossible  in  a small  institution. 

Attention  is  invited  to  the  report  of  the  superintendent  in 
regard  to  this  and  other  measures  adopted  to  make  room  for 
more  patients. 

The  continual  increase  of  insane  persons  in  this  State  ren- 
ders larger  accommodations  a necessity.  The  general  assem- 
bly, in  recognition  of  this  necessity  appropriated,  for  addi- 
tional buildings,  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  The  appro- 
priation was  committed  to  the  trustees,  as  all  others  for  the 
hospital  have  been,  with  a single  exception. 

They  chose  five  of  their  number,  a building  committee, 
whose  experience  in  hospital  erection  and  business  affairs 
generally,  especially  fitted  them  for  this  undertaking. 

With  some  difficulty,  but  favored  by  the  low  price  of  ma- 
terial and  of  labor,  they  made  contracts  to  erect  a center 


362 


building  and  one  wing,  and  furnish  them,  without  exceeding 
the  appropriation.  At  much  personal  sacrifice,  the  commit- 
tee have  freely  given  their  time  and  service  to  secure  for  the 
State  the  best  buildings  possible  in  the  circumstances. 

The  contractors  have  been  faithful  to  their  engagements. 
The  season  has  been  remarkably  favorable,  and  the  progress 
of  the  work  very  satisfactory. 

The  accompanying  reports  will  state  more  particularly 
what  has  been  done  in  building  and  repairs,  also  to  cultivate 
and  improve  the  farm.  The  larger  liberty  allowed  the  patients, 
and  the  benefits  many  derive  from  it  is  cheering  evidence  of 
the  progress  that  has  been  made  in  wise  and  humane  care 
for  the  insane. 

The  occasional  escape  of  a patient  from  the  grounds,  so  far 
from  reflecting  on  the  officers  or  attendants,  may  be  regarded 
as  an  evidence  that  the  patients  are  allowed  the  utmost  free- 
dom consistent  with  their  mental  condition,  and  that  the 
superintendent  regards  it  less  an  evil,  that  out  of  so  many 
hundreds  one  should  occasionally  steal  away,  than  that  all 
should  be  constantly  shut  up.  Of  the  few  who  escape,  some 
returned  before  bedtime,  others  are  usually  brought  back 
before  many  days.  An  additional  appropriation  to  complete 
the  buildings  now  in  process  of  erection  after  the  original 
plan,  so  that  they  can  receive  male  patients,  is  respectfully 
recommended.  An  early  appropriation  will  be  for  the  advan- 
tage of  the  State  in  various  ways. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Richard  S.  Fellowes,  the  trustee  from 
New  Haven,  on  the  10th  of  March  last,  deprived  the  hospi- 
tal of  one  of  its  truest,  wisest,  and  most  efficient  friends.  His 
interest  in  the  enterprise  led  to  his  appointment  as  trustee, 
when  the  charter  was  given,  June,  1866. 

lie  gave  cheerfully  time,  money,  and  unusual  business  sa- 
gacity to  help  the  institution.  His  pen  and  his  voice  were 
ever  at  its  service.  His  last  day’s  work  was  to  meet  the  com- 
mittee of  the  legislature  on  humane  institutions,  accompany 
them  through  the  buildings  and  about  the  grounds,  and  with 
impressive  earnestness  and  eloquence  set  forth  the  distressing 


363 


need  of  new  buildings  to  aid  those  suffering  from  mental  dis- 
ease, for  whom  there  was  no  room  in  the  hospital. 

The  shadow  of  death,  though  unnoticed,  was  even  then 
upon  him.  In  a day  or  two  he  was  prostrated  by  paralysis, 
and  passed  away  two  or  three  weeks  later. 

The  Honorable  Henry  B.  Harrison,  the  speaker  of  the 
House,  consented  to  accept  the  office,  and  was  elected  trustee 
by  the  Senate. 

The  terms  of  the  trustee  from  Hartford  and  Tolland  coun- 
ties expire  this  year. 

It  is  respectfully  recommended  that  they  be  reappointed. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

THOMAS  M.  WALLER, 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 
CLARK  E.  BARROWS, 
HENRY  B.  HARRISON, 
HENRY  WOODWARD, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 

H.  P.  GEIB,  M.D., 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 
JOSEPH  W.  ALSOP,  M.D., 
ELISHA  B.  NYE,  M.D. 

Middletown,  Nov.  30,  1884. 


EEPOET  OF  SUPEE  INTENDED. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 

Insane  : 

Gentlemen  — The  following  report  of  this  institution  for 
the  fiscal  year  ending  November  30,  1884,  together  with  the 
usual  statistical  tables,  is  respectfully  submitted. 

There  were  in  the  hospital  at  the  commencement  of  the 
year  860  patients,  392  men  and  468  women.  This  number 
represents  so  many  persons.  In  our  tables  no  person  appears 
more  than  once  in  any  year.  If  discharged  and  re-admitted 
within  the  year,  he  resumes  his  former  case  number.  During 
the  year  243  have  been  admitted,  121  men  and  122  women  ; 
making  the  whole  number  under  treatment,  1,103.  The 
number  of  patients  discharged  was  125,  of  whom  66  were 
men  and  59  were  women.  There  were  55  deaths,  34  men  and 
21  women.  The  average  number  of  patients  resident  during 
the  year  was  883.22,  of  whom  402.58  were  men  and  480.64 
were  women. 

You  observe  that  the  year  closed  with  63  more  patients 
than  at  its  commencement,  and  that  the  daily  average  ex- 
ceeded by  29.17  that  of  the  previous  year.  The  highest  num- 
ber in  the  house  at  any  time  was  923,  and  the  lowest  850. 
When  it  is  remembered  that  the  normal  capacity  of  the  hos- 
pital is  only  800  beds,  it  will  be  seen  that  throughout  the 
year  our  accommodation  has  been  overtaxed,  and  the  house 
at  all  times  dangerously  crowded.  As  far  as  possible  all  have 
been  received  who  were  likely  to  suffer  for  want  of  proper 
treatment;  but  as  in  former  years,  many  applications,  num- 
bering in  all  about  one  hundred,  had  to  be  refused,  or  at  best 
delayed  for  weeks,  until  vacancies  were  made  by  death  or 
removals.  I trust  this  will  be  the  last  time  I shall  have  to 
report  that,  owing  to  want  of  room,  cases  have  been  compelled 


365 


to  seek  relief  out  of  the  state.  The  progress  made  towards 
the  completion  of  the  new  south  hospital  leads  me  to  hope 
that  before  May,  1885,  we  shall  be  prepared  to  admit  all  fe- 
male applicants  as  they  arise. 

ADMISSIONS. 

Of  the  total  number  admitted,  156  were  first  admissions; 
that  is,  persons  who  were  for  the  first  time  sent  to  any  hospi- 
tal for  treatment;  6T  were  second;  12  were  third;  2 were 
fourth;  3 were  fifth;  and  one  each  were  sixth,  seventh,  and 
eighth. 

The  large  percentage  of  re-admissions  is  explained  by  the 
fact  that  selectmen  have  frequently  removed  chronic  cases  to 
make  room  for  violent  cases;  but  sooner  or  later,  in  a major- 
ity of  instances,  the  former  are  brought  back  to  the  hospital. 

It  affords  me  pleasure  to  say  that  30  of  these  re-admissions 
had  been  away  from  the  hospital  able  to  Tollow  their  usual 
avocations  for  periods  varying  from  one  to  eight  years. 

The  character  of  the  admissions  as  regards  probability  of 
recovery  was,  as  usual,  unfavorable,  owing  to  the  duration  of 
the  disease.  Of  the  243  patients  admitted,  only  94  had  been 
insane  less  than  one  year  ; 34  from  one  to  two  years;  47  from 
two  to  five  years;  47  from  five  to  thirty  years;  6 over  thirty 
years ; one  was  not  insane ; and  of  14  nothing  could  be  learned 
respecting  their  previous  histories.  As  the  prospect  of  recov- 
ery diminishes  rapidly  after  the  first  six  months  and  becomes 
an  infinitesimal  quantity  after  the  expiration  of  one  year,  it 
is  only  fair  to  expect  that  more  than  three-fourths  of  all  those 
admitted  will  require  public  or  private  care  during  life.  Sim- 
ple justice  requires  me  to  add  some  other  unfavorable  factors 
in  the  histories  of  these  patients,  viz.  r 3 were  instances  of 
marked  congenital  defect;  9 were  complicated  with  epilepsy; 
and  7 were  cases  of  general  paralysis.  One  of  the  patients 
admitted  was  over  80,  and  eleven  between  the  ages  of  70  and 
80  years.  In  all  of  these  no  reasonable  hope  of  recovery  can 
be  entertained. 

Only  one  insane  convict  was  transferred  from  Wethersfield 


866 


daring  the  year,  and  the  total  number  of  this  class  at  this 
date  is  only  four. 

One  of  the  patients  admitted,  although  having  legal  papers, 
appeared  to  be  not  insane.  After  being  detained  long  enough 
to  determine  this  fact  he  was  discharged,  and  has  continued 
sound.  The  history  of  the  case  and  the  circumstances  would 
not  lead  us  to  question  or  suspect  the  motives  of  the  author- 
ities in  sending  him  to  the  hospital. 

Another  male  patient  was  admitted  in  the  delirium  of  in- 
toxication. A few  days  of  seclusion  and  abstinence  were 
sufficient  to  restore  him  to  normal  condition,  when  he  was 
discharged,  doubtless  to  return  with  renewed  appetite  to  his 
depraved  habits.  In  this  and  all  similar  instances  in  previous 
years,  I have  tabulated  the  mental  condition  of  such  cases 
when  discharged  as  “ stationary.” 

Permit  me  to  repeat  what  was  said  in  a former  report,  that 
a hospital  for  the  insane  is  not  a proper  place  for  inebriates. 
At  the  best  they  cannot  be  retained  long  enough  to  effect 
a cure.  A brief  respite  from  the  usual  stimulant  restores 
them  to  sanity,  and  they  soon  become  discontented  and  a dis- 
turbing element  in  the  hospital  family. 

The  youngest  person  admitted  was  aged  15  years ; one  other 
16;  two  17  ; four  18 ; and  four  19  : thus  making  12  persons  in 
one  year  under  20  years  of  age.  Three  of  these  were  defec- 
tive from  birth,  and  will  require  care  during  life;  two  were 
restored  to  health  after  a few  weeks’ treatment,  and  all  of  the 
remainder  are  considered  curable. 

Of  the  admissions,  14:  cases  had  recovered  their  mental 
health,  and  12  cases  had  died  before  the  end  of  the  year. 

Of  the  243  persons  admitted  (see  Table  IX),  2 were  com- 
mitted by  friends  ; 222  by  probate  court;  12  by  superior  court; 
4 by  police  court ; and  3 by  orders  from  the  governor  of  the 
state.  Table  X shows  you  how  these  various  classes  are  sup- 
ported, as  follows : 3 by  self  or  friends  (paying);  88  by  state 
and  friends  (indigents);  140  by  state  and  towns  (paupers); 
and  12  by  state  alone. 

The  civil  condition  of  those  admitted  is  as  follows:  single, 
132;  married,  90;  widowed,  19;  and  unknown,  2. 


367 


DISCHARGES. 

Referring  to  Table  I you  learn  that  the  discharges  amount 
to  125,  and  include  three  classes  : those  who  had  recovered, 
52 ; those  who  had  improved  and  were  sent  home  on  trial,  25; 
and  those  quiet  chronic  patients  who,  showing  no  appreciable 
change, were  removed  by  selectmen  or  friends,  to  make  room 
for  more  urgent  cases,  48. 

The  total  recoveries  amount  to  52,  which  number,  calcu- 
lated upon  the  admissions,  gives  a recovery  rate  of  over  21 
per  cent.,  or  5 per  cent,  less  than  the  rate  of  last  year.  The 
average  recovery  rate  for  the  preceding  ten  years  has  been  22 
per  cent. 

It  would  be  instructive  to  study  in  detail  the  clinical  his- 
tories of  all  the  cases  that  terminated  in  recovery,  but  space 
will  only  permit  a glance  at  two  facts.  First,  the  importance 
of  early  treatment,  and  secondly,  the’advantage  of  having  this 
treatment  away  from  home.  The  average  duration  of  treat- 
ment of  those  who  were  admitted  within  one  month  of  the 
attack  was  only  five  months.  Where  the  insanity  had  lasted 
three  months  before  admission  the  period  of  treatment  was 
fifteen  months  or  more. 

Of  the  52  recoveries  only  3 had  been  insane  two  years. 
Nothing  could  more  strikingly  illustrate  the  economy,  as  well 
as  the  importance  of  early  treatment  away  from  home.  It 
may  seem  paradoxical  to  those  who  are  not  familiar  with  the 
facts  to  assert  that  strangers  and  strange  surroundings  are 
more  conducive  to  restoration  than  the  devoted  attendance  of 
loving  friends  within  the  hallowed  precincts  of  home.  Ex- 
perience, however,  proves  that  such  is  the  fact;  and  this  fact 
seems  plausible  and  rational  when  it  is  remembered  that  per- 
sons become  insane  at  home , and  perhaps  because  of  home.  In 
other  words,  many  influences  at  home,  such  as  the  drudgery 
of  household  cares,  incompatibility  of  temperaments,  work 
and  worry,  may  silently  undermine  the  mental  stability  until 
reason  is  dethroned.  I am  not  wise  enough  to  unravel  the 
tangled  web,  and  point  out  the  particular  cause  or  the  last 
factor  that  has  produced  so  much  distress,  but  I have  reason 


368 


to  believe  that  to  the  mistaken  kindness  of  friends  in  retain- 
ing patients  at  home  during  the  early  stages  of  mental  disease 
may  be  attributed  the  hopelessly  chronic  character  of  so  many 
patients  when  sent  to  hospitals. 

DEATHS. 

It  affords  me  pleasure  to  report  an  absence  of  epidemic  or 
endemic  disease.  General  good  health  has  prevailed  through- 
out the  year  among  officers,  employes,  and  patients.  Exten- 
sive removal  of  earth  around  the  new  hospital  led  us  to  expect 
some  form  of  malarial  disease,  but  thus  far,  happily,  our 
expectations  have  not  been  realized.  The  total  number  of 
deaths  (55)  is  much  below  the  average  for  the  whole  period 
of  seventeen  years,  since  the  opening  of  the  hospital,  and  has 
only  been  a fraction  less  in  three  of  those  years.  The  death 
rate,  calculated  from  the  average  number  resident,  was  6.22, 
and  on  the  total  number  under  treatment,  4.9S.  As  usual, 
the  mortality  among  males  is  larger  than  among  females, 
owing  to  the  much  greater  frequency  of  general  paralysis 
among  the  former.  The  cause  of  death,  as  verified  in  8 cases 
by  post  mortem  examinations,  was  general  paralysis  in  11 ; 
tubercular  consumption,  8;  apoplexy,  7;  exhaustion  from 
mania,  5;  old  age,  4;  epileptic  coma,  3;  pneumonia,  3; 
Bright’s  disease  of  the  kidneys,  2;  valvular  disease  of  the 
heart,  2 ; paralysis,  2 ; and  one  each  from  chronic  cystitis, 
marasmus,  suicide,  cerebral  atrophy,  capillary  bronchitis, 
chronic  artheritis,  accidental  drowning,  and  strangulated 
hernia. 

The  average  age  of  all  who  died  was  51.63  years.  Two 
had  passed  80;  ten  were  between  70  and  80.  The  oldest 
was  85.  The  following  table,  showing  the  deaths  and  their 
ratio  from  the  opening  of  the  hospital  to  the  close  of  this 
fiscal  year,  is  given  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  are  seeking 
tabular  information  for  the  purpose  of  comparison  : 


339 


Deaths  and  their  Ratios,  from  May  1,  1868,  to  Nov.  30,  1884. 


C3 

© 

I* 

Whole  No.  of 
Patients. 

SO 

<d  ti 
g 08 

DEATHS. 

£ 

'o  ® 

f ! 

rb 

'3  42 

^ O)  § 
© ££ 

[3 

o 

B 

o 

*3  6 
A6 

Men. 

Females. 

Total. 

s'© 
v 6 
& & 

Ah 

o 

a> 

Ah 

1868-69, 

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17.57 

1869-70, 

343 

225.17 

18 

3 

21 

6 12 

9.32 

1870-71, 

307 

237. 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72, 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-73, 

336 

264.53 

12 

9 

21 

6.25 

7 86 

1873-74, 

524 

339.51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75, 

605 

425  80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76, 

616 

452.64 

26 

7 

33 

5.35 

7.31 

1876,  8 mo 
Dec.  1 ’76, 

548 

456.97 

9 

6 

15 

2.73 

3.28 

Nov  30,77 

619 

463.88 

19 

12 

31 

5.01 

6.69 

1877-78, 

629 

474.17 

27 

13 

40 

6.36 

8.43 

1878-79, 

644 

498.34 

9 

10 

19 

2.95 

3.81 

1879-80, 

654 

514.63 

16 

14 

30 

4.58 

5.82 

1880-81, 

881 

608.51 

32 

12 

44 

5.00 

7.24 

1881-82, 

1079 

789.27 

47 

32 

79 

7.32 

10.01 

1882-83, 

1113 

854.5 

43 

37 

80 

7.18 

9.33 

1883-84, 

1103 

883.2 

34 

21 

55 

4.98 

6.22 

The  only  cases  where  the  causes  of  death  call  for  remark  is 
one  case  of  suicide,  where  an  old  female  patient,  who  had 
been  insane  for  many  years,  succeeded  in  effecting  her  mor- 
bid purpose  one  Sunday  afternoon,  while  her  attendant  and 
associate  patients  were  in  chapel  attending  Divine  worship. 

The  other  was  a case  of  accidental  drowning.  A male 
patient  who  had  frequently  been  in  bathing  before,  while  at 
work  with  other  patients  and  an  attendant  at  the  coal  shed 
near  the  river,  while  heated  went  into  the  water,  and,  most 
probably,  suffered  from  a cramp.  Unfortunately,  before  aid 
could  reach  him,  he  was  taken  down  by  the  strong  current, 
and  only  rescued  after  life  had  become  extinct.  The  medical 
examiner  of  this  town  promptly  and  carefully  inquired  into 
all  the  facts  in  both  cases  and  made  proper  return  to  the 
county  coroner. 


24 


370 


TREATMENT. 

Notwithstanding  the  marked  progress  that  has  been  made 
in  the  treatment  of  the  insane  during  the  last  quarter  of  a 
century,  it  is  yet  true  that  our  present  knowledge  of  the 
genesis  of  mental  disease  is  so  vague  and  ill-defined  that  the 
medical  treatment  remains  somewhat  empirical.  Medical 
experts  have  thus  far  failed  to  find  any  miraculous  method  by 
which  disordered  intellects  can  be  restored  to  normal  activity. 
Careful  searching  after  causes  has  led  to  more  intelligent 
conceptions  of  the  nature  of  insanity,  and  hence  improved 
methods  of  treatment.  If  mental  disease  is  dependent,  as  I 
believe,  on  conditions  that  are  avoidable  or  removable,  and 
not  the  necessary  concomitants  of  civilization,  then  insanity 
may  be  regarded  as  being  largely  preventable.  The  trans- 
gression of  natural  physiological  laws  always  results  in 
disease  or  modification  of  natural  function.  Vicious  excesses 
in  one  generation  show  their  baneful  effects  in  the  children  of 
succeeding  generations.  Unnatural  greed  engendered  by 
false  methods  of  business  tends  to  excitement,  worry,  and 
mental  strain.  Marriage  in  consanguinity  is  followed,  sooner 
or  later,  by  disease  or  decay.  These  are  only  glimpses  into 
the  broad  field  which  opens  before  us,  but  they  are  perhaps 
sufficient  to  indicate  the  thought  I wish  to  convey,  viz. : 
whenever  society  recognizes  these  great  truths  and  places  on 
our  statute  book  intelligent  laws  that  shall  regulate  marriage 
and  rigidly  control  evil  excesses,  then,  and  only  then,  may 
we  hope  that  in  spite  of,  even  by  reason  of,  further  advance 
in  civilization,  the  present  rate  of  development  of  insanity 
may  undergo  not  only  arrest  but  diminution. 

The  great  field  for  future  progress,  then,  lies  in  the  pre- 
vention of  insanity.  But  to  you,  as  public  guardians,  it  may 
be  more  important  to  ascertain  whether  the  year’s  experience 
covered  by  this  report  has  led  to  any  advance  in  curative 
measures.  I would  reply  that  we  have,  as  never  before,  made 
our  great  family  of  1,100  persons  comfortable  and  compara- 
tively happy.  As  already  stated,  our  work  has  been  largely 
custodial  and  in  the  line  of  careful  nursing,  because  more 


371 


than  three-fourths  of  all  the  patients  had  been  insane  from 
two  to  forty  years  before  admission.  We  have  not  been  able 
to  replace  lost  faculties  or  restore  morbid  nerve  tissue,  but  I 
am  sure  we  have  tried  faithfully  to  use  all  the  means  known 
to  medical  science  in  the  treatment  of  recent  cases,  without 
neglecting  the  much  larger  class  of  those  who  must  look  to 
the  hospital  as  their  probable  home  during  the  remainder  of 
life.  So  far  as  possible  every  case  has  been  treated  as  an 
individual  case. 

Personal  nursing,  constant  and  liberal  feeding,  and  careful 
administration  of  medicines  have  constituted  the  methods 
pursued  in  all  cases  admitted  to  this  hospital.  Liberal,  even 
lavish,  treatment  of  insanity  in  its  early  stages  is  the  truest 
economy,  resulting  in  an  increased  recovery  rate  and  conse- 
quent diminution  of  the  chronic  insane.  In  a previous  report 
your  attention  was  directed  to  the  necessity  of  having  special 
wards  provided  for  the  epileptic  insane.  Recognizing  the 
advantage  of  such  provision  you  have  wisely  planned  two 
wards  in  the  new  south  hospital,  which,  when  completed,  will 
be  used  for  this  class  of  female  patients. 

In  order  to  test  experimentally  the  advantage  of  special 
care  I set  apart  one  ward  of  the  south  hospital  for  epileptic 
males,  in  which  w7e  have  treated  twTenty  cases  during  the  past 
eleven  weeks.  These  patients  are  under  the  care  of  tw’o 
attendants  from  time  of  rising-bell  until  7 : 30  p.  m.  At  night, 
or  from  7 : 30  p.  m.,  until  rising-bell,  under  the  care  of  special 
night  attendant.  The  arrangement  consists  of  two  large 
dormitories  24  feet  square,  separated  by  a hall  10  feet  wide, 
where  the  night  attendant  sits.  The  doors  of  the  dormitories 
are  always  open,  so  that  the  attendant  can  hear  and  respond 
to  any  noise  or  motion.  He  is  thus  able  to  render  assistance 
during  epileptic  seizures,  preventing  such  accidents  as  are 
liable  to  result  from  being  smothered  in  the  pillows  or  falling 
from  bed.  The  statistics  for  eleven  weeks  are  as  follows : 
Number  of  patients,  20;  number  of  epileptic  seizures,  by 
day,  150,  by  night,  308  ; total,  458  ; four  had  seizures  only  at 
night ; sixteen  had  more  seizures  during  the  night  than  during 
the  day ; and  in  only  four  cases  wTas  this  order  reversed.  By 


372 


this  arrangement  we  are  better  able  to  watch  the  effects  of 
remedies,  diet,  and  exercise,  and  at  the  same  time  reduce  to 
the  minimum  the  liability  to  accidents.  For  the  ensuing 
year  we  hope  to  extend  this  method  of  special  care,  until  all 
of  the  epileptic  insane  are  provided  for. 

The  moral  treatment  of  the  patients  has  been  conducted  on 
the  same  general  principles  as  detailed  in  previous  reports. 
It  has  been  our  aim  to  classify  and  group  together  persons  of 
congenial  habits,  and  thus  promote  sociability  and  good  feel- 
ing. An  atmosphere  of  quiet  contentment  has  prevaded  the 
house  to  a degree  unlooked  for,  considering  its  crowded  con- 
dition. A glance  at  the  program  will  show  that  there  has 
been  no  falling  off  in  the  various  amusements  and  recreations 
provided  during  the  winter,  while  in  summer  all  are  per- 
mitted or  required  to  spend  several  hours  of  each  pleasant 
day  out  of  doors.  The  privilege  of  limited  and  unlimited 
parole  has  been  extended  to  a degree  that  would  have  been 
considered  hazardous,  if  not  impossible,  ten  years  ago.  Oc- 
cupation continues  as  heretofore  to  form  a prominent  feature 
in  the  administration  of  this  hospital,  the  daily  records  show- 
ing that  more  than  50  per  cent,  of  both  sexes  have  been 
usefully  and  profitably  employed  on  the  farm  and  grounds,  or 
in  the  kitchen,  laundry,  sewing-room,  or  general  housework. 
If  we  had  a large  inexpensive  building  which  could  be  used 
for  shop  purposes  I am  sure  many  more  of  our  patients  could 
be  occupied  at  brush  or  broom  making  during  the  winter 
months  when  outdoor  work  is  not  practicable. 

ESCAPES. 

The  enlargement  of  parole,  previously  mentioned,  has  not 
resulted  in  an  increased  number  of  escapes.  During  the  year 
only  34  persons  (last  year  40)  wandered  off  without  permis- 
sion. Of  this  number  2 returned  voluntarily  within  a few 
hours,  16  were  brought  back  after  an  average  absence  of  four 
and  one-half  hours,  13  were  returned  within  three  or  four 
days,  1 reached  home  safely,  so  much  improved  that  it  was 
considered  best  to  have  him  remain.  Only  two  are  still  at 
large.  As  both  of  these  men  had  recovered  and  were  soon  to 


373 


be  discharged,  we  have  overlooked  the  apparent  want  of 
courtesy  shown  in  their  hasty  departure,  and  have  made  no 
efforts  to  secure  their  return. 

Whenever  practicable  it  is  our  custom  to  send  patients  to 
their  homes  for  a visit,  or  on  trial,  previous  to  their  discharge. 
This  course  is  followed  in  order  that  the  convalescent  should 
be  under  supervision  during  his  first  return  to  cares  and  oc- 
cupations of  active  life.  In  case  of  relapse  before  the  expira- 
tion of  the  period  of  probation,  he  can  be  returned  without 
the  delay  of  procuring  new  papers. 

REPAIRS  AND  IMPROVEMENTS. 

Believing  that  true  economy  consists  in  preserving  and  im- 
proving the  buildings  and  appliances  which  have  been 
erected  under  your  supervision,  we  have  continued  making 
such  repairs  as  the  funds  at  our  disposal  would  permit.  A 
full  record  of  these  improvements  would  require  more  space 
than  I have  at  command.  Among  the  most  important  may 
be  mentioned  the  completion  and  occupancy  in  April  of  the 
infirmary  wards  for  the  more  excitable  female  patients  ; a 
large  sunny  day-room  and  two  single  rooms  in  connection 
with  ward  A ; finishing  off  six  rooms  in  the  attic  of  south 
hospital ; the  erection  of  a large  brick  meat-house  and  cooling- 
room  ; new  roof  over  boiler-house,  main  hospital ; new  shingle 
roofs  over  the  farm  cottage  and  the  Fallon  house;  repainting 
the  entire  outside  wood-work  of  main  hospital ; relaying  floors 
at  Silver-mine  cottage ; cementing  floors  in  butter-room, 
tramways,  and  closets ; placing  gas  lamp  over  south  door  of 
annex,  and  near  the  walk  midway  between  main  and  south 
hospitals ; together  with  many  minor  repairs  as  they  have 
been  needed  from  day  to  day.  To  those  of  you  who  are  most 
familiar  with  the  daily  working  of  the  hospital  it  must  be 
evident  that  the  institution  is  in  better  condition  than  at  any 
previous  date. 

FINANCIAL  EXHIBIT. 

It  affords  me  pleasure  to  say  that  the  expense  of  mainten- 
ance, together  with  repairs  and  improvements,  has  been  met 


374 


by  the  annual  earnings  of  the  hospital.  It  may  be  proper 
also  to  mention  that  the  hospital  has  not  called  upon  the  State 
to  make  special  appropriations  for  maintenance  since  its 
opening  in  1868.  In  other  words,  the  hospital  has  been  con- 
ducted within  its  receipts  and  earnings.  The  price  of  board 
for  all  during  the  year  has  been  $3.75  per  week.  This  covers 
everything  except  clothing,  which  is,  from  choice,  generally 
furnished  bv  friends.  If  staple  provisions  remain  as  at 
present  cost  the  weekly  charge  can  be  reduced  to  $3.50  with- 
out lowering  the  standard  already  established. 

The  appended  financial  report  shows  that  the  revenues  for 
the  year  were  $185,705.32,  and  the  payments  $184,856.70. 
All  bills  have  been  audited  and  paid  monthly. 

THE  FARM. 

Under  Mr.  Sanderson’s  judicious  management  the  farm 
continues  to  be  a source  of  profit  to  the  institution  and  of 
pleasure  to  those  of  the  men  who  are  able  and  willing  to 
work.  In  this  way  fresh  vegetables,  berries,  fruits,  and  milk 
are  provided  liberally. 

In  addition  to  the  labor  performed  in  the  garden  and  on 
the  farm,  much  work  has  been  done  under  Col.  Thayer’s 
direction  in  grading  about  the  new  hospital.  In  this  inex- 
pensive way  a rough,  wet,  and  unsightly  ravine  has  been 
transformed  into  an  attractive  slope,  with  a pond  and  foun- 
tain to  add  beauty  and  freshness  to  the  whole  scene.  For 
the  ensuing  }rear  many  patients  can  be  pleasantly  employed 
in  this  healthful  way.  I often  wish  that  we  had  some  useful 
outdoor  employment  for  the  female  patients.  Their  work 
seems  to  be  restricted  to  domestic  labor  indoors ; why  not 
set  apart  a large  garden  spot  for  their  especial  use,  and  allow 
them  to  have  the  entire  charge  of  it  ? The  experiment  is 
certainly  worthy  of  trial.  If  successful  the  advantages  of 
such  a project  can  be  scarcely  overestimated. 

ENTERTAINMENTS. 

Again,  I have  to  thank  many  friends  for  their  assistance  in 
giving  private  theatrical  performances,  concerts,  lectures,  and 


375 


readings;  and  our  assistant,  Dr.  Olmstead,  has  been  indefat- 
igable in  managing  most  perfectly  these  modes  of  treatment. 

The  amusements  provided  for  the  patients  have  been 
as  varied  and  more  numerous  than  in  any  previous  year. 

We  value  them  not  only  for  the  good  done  at  the  time,  but 
for  the  good  service  they  do  in  rousing  patients  to  prepare  for 
them  ; and  they  are  good  as  leaving  memories  which  take  the 
patient’s  attention  from  himself. 

At  Christmas  we  had  a large  tree  and  a distribution  of 
presents  given  by  the  friends,  and  every  patient  received 
some  token  of  remembrance.  The  following  is  a partial  list 
of  the  evening  entertainments  : 


Sociable,  with  dancing, 

Lectures,  illustrated  with  stereopticon,  .... 

Roller  skating, 

Dramatic  entertainment,  hospital  troupe,  .... 
“ “ Miss  Briggs  and  pupils, 

Concert,  Wesleyan  Glee  Club, 

Musical  entertainment,  hospital  troupe,  .... 
Christmas  tree  and  concert,  ...... 

Reading,  Miss  Nettie  Jackson, 

“ Rev.  Geo.  Lyon,  Jr., 

“ Prof.  R.  G.  Hibbard, 

“ Mrs.  Edna  Chaffee  Noble, 

Lecture,  ventriloquism,  H.  F.  Bryant,  .... 
“ “John  Wy  cliff,”  Rev.  T.  W.  Coit,  D.D.,  . 

“ “China,”  S.  C.  Partridge, 

“ “Coral  and  the  Coral  Islands,”  Rev.  J.  Wycliff 

Beach, ' 

“ “ The  Jeannette  Expedition,”  Raymond  Lee  New- 
comb,   

“ “ Alaska,”  Chas.  Northend,  . 

“ An  evening  with  Whittier,”  Young  People’s  Association 

of  the  M.  E.  Chnrch, 

Masquerade  party, 

Outdoor  concerts,  hospital  band, 


10  evenings. 
3 
9 

3 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

36 


DONATIONS. 

In  addition  to  many  gifts  made  to  individuals,  the  following 
donations,  which  I acknowledge  with  sincere  pleasure,  were 
received  and  used  for  the  general  good: 

From  Mr.  R.  S.  Fellowes,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  subscription 


376 


for  the  year,  three  copies  of  the  “ Sailors’  Magazine,”  six 
copies  “ Sunday  Reading,”  and  four  calendars  of  American 
History. 

From  the  estate  of  Frederick  Marquand,  $150  towards  the 
purchase  of  a piano  for  the  chapel. 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Monroe,  of  Southport,  Conn.,  three  large  pack- 
ages of  books  and  magazines. 

H.  I).  A.  Ward,  Esq.,  Middletown,  several  books,  maga- 
zines, and  illustrated  papers. 

Miss  Mary  P.  Roberts,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  twenty  books  and 
pamphlets. 

J.  A.  Sumner,  Middletown,  one  volume  entitled  “ Sport 
with  Rod  and  Gun.” 

Mrs.  Francis  A.  Ward,  Middletown,  a package  of  illustrated 
papers. 

T.  S.  Gold,  secretary  State  board  of  agriculture,  13  copies 
of  Agricultural  Reports. 

Jonathan  Ivilbourn,  Esq.,  Middletown,  package  of  papers. 

M.  B.  Copeland,  Esq.,  13  bound  volumes,  and  21  paper 
covered  novels ; also,  contribution  to  the  costumes  in  the 
amusement  hall. 

Mr.  F.  B.  Weeks,  package  of  illustrated  papers. 

Mrs.  J.  B.  Evans,  Middletown,  package  of  newspapers. 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Piddock,  Middletown,  package  of  religious 
papers. 

Henry  Bill  Publishing  Co.,  Norwich,  Conn.,  one  copy  of 
Blaine’s  u Twenty  Years  in  Congress.” 

Also  from  the  publishers  of  the  following  newspapers, 
gratuitous  copies  furnished  during  the  year: 

Hartford,  Conn. 

. do.  do. 

do.  do. 

do.  do. 

New  Haven,  do. 

. Rockville,  do. 

do.  do. 

New  York  City. 
Middletown,  Conn, 
do.  do. 


Hartford  Daily  Courant, 
do.  do.  Evening  Post, 
do.  Weekly  Times, 

Religious  Herald,  weekly, 

New  Haven  Weekly  Palladium,  . 
Tolland  County  Journal,  weekly, 
Tolland  County  Leader,  weekly, 
Sheltering  Arms,  monthly, 

The  Herald,  daily, 

The  Constitution,  weekly, 


377 


The  Sentinel  and  Witness,  weekly, 
The  Enterprise,  weekly. 

The  Review,  weekly, 

Bridgeport  Standard,  weekly, 
Weekly  Witness,  weekly, 

The  Transcript,  weekly, 

The  Regions  Beyond,  monthly, 


Middletown,  Conn, 
Naugatuck,  do. 

do.  do. 
Bridgeport,  do. 
New  York  City. 
Portland,  Me. 
London,  Eng. 


SUNDAY  RELIGIOUS  SERVICES. 


The  following  clergymen 
services  during  the  year: 

Rev.  T.  W.  Coit,  D.D., 

Rev.  Wm.  C.  Foster, 

Rev.  John  Townsend, 

Rev.  A.  W.  Hazen, 

Rev.  Geo.  Westgate, 

Rev.  W.  A.  Richards, 

Rev.  Geo.  Lyon,  Jr., 

Rev.  J.  W.  Tuck, 

Rev.  H.  R.  Phoenix, 

Rev.  P.  M.  Snjrder, 

Rev.  F.  Gardiner,  D.D., 

Rev.  C.  A.  Piddock, 

Rev.  F.  S.  Hoffman, 

Rev.  Samuel  Hopley, 

Rev.  Richard  L.  de  Zeng, 

Rev.  Frank  L.  Hayward, 

Rev.  Harrison  Closson, 

Rev.  William  Allen  Johnson,  D.D. 
Rev.  J.  S.  Bayne, 

Rev.  C.  H.  Bond, 

Rev.  R.  Povey, 

Rev.  W.  Y.  Kelly, 

Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond, 

Rev.  S.  A.  Hayt, 

Rev.  A.  C.  Denison, 

Rev.  Mr.  McDuffy, 

Rev.  Geo.  Prentice, 


kindly  conducted  the  chapel 

. . Middletown,  Conn. 


Boston,  Mass. 
Middletown,  Conn. 


Portland,  Conn. 

’Middletown,  “ 

Portland,  “ 

Middletown,  “ 

Yernon,  “ 

Watertown,  N.  Y. 
Middletown,  Conn. 
North  Carolina. 
Middletown,  Conn. 


CONCLUSION. 

It  seems  but  a few  days  since  we  were  engaged,  as  to-day, 
in  reviewing  the  events  of  the  previous  fiscal  year.  Measured 
by  weeks,  the  time  has  passed  quickly.  If  all  the  joys  and 
sorrows,  the  anxieties  and  labors,  could  be  measured  this 


378 


period  would  seem  an  age.  In  a house  so  crowded  as  this 
has  been,  during  the  past  year,  an  unusual  amount  of  work 
and  care  has  been  thrown  upon  all  connected  with  its  man- 
agement. 

Standing  at  its  close  we  have  reason  to  rejoice  that  so  much 
good  has  been  accomplished,  with  so  few  causes  for  regret. 
The  staff  of  officers  remains  the  same  with  one  exception.  In 
April  Miss  Parker,  the  efficient  housekeeper  at  the  south 
hospital,  resigned  her  office  to  occupy  another  of  more  honor 
and  responsibility.  Her  place  has  been  judiciously  filled  by 
the  appointment  of  Mrs.  Ella  Waite.  I feel  under  great 
obligations  to  the  medical  and  other  administrative  officers 
for  their  cordial  and  harmonious  co-operation  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  good  of  the  institution,  and  the  comfort  and 
welfare  of  those  committed  to  its  care.  For  your  kindness 
and  courtesy  throughout  the  year,  and  during  the  whole 
period  of  my  official  connection  with  this  institution  — now 
more  than  eighteen  years  — I beg  you  to  accept  my  sincere 
acknowledgments. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

ABRAM  MARVIN  SHEW,  M.D., 

Superintendent . 

Middletown,  Conn.,  November  30, 1884. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut : 

The  board  of  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  beg  leave  to  submit  their  twentieth  annual  report. 

They  would,  at  the  outset,  make  grateful  mention  that  the 
Divine  Father,  who  ever  watches  over  his  defenseless  chil- 
dren, has  continued  his  protection  to  those  deprived  of  their 
reason,  that  have  been  patients  in  the  hospital,  and  to  those 
who  have  taken  care  of  them.  There  has  been  freedom  from 
epidemic  disease  and  from  unforeseen  calamity. 

Since  the  last  annual  report,  dated  December  1st,  the  cen- 
ter building  and  north  wing  of  the  hospital,  now  known  as 
the  “ New  South,”  have  been  completed. 

In  the  month  of  May  it  was  opened  for  women.  This  was 
a relief  to  other  overcrowded  wards,  and  to  towns  waiting  to 
send  female  patients. 

The  building  is  found  to  be  remarkably  well  fitted  to  the 
ends  for  which  it  was  designed.  All  the  light,  ventilation, 
coolness  in  summer,  and  warmth  in  winter,  that  could  with 
reason  be  expected  are  secured.  The  kitchen  and  store- 
rooms are  convenient.  The  day-rooms,  the  dormitories,  the 
halls,  the  dining-rooms,  and  the  office  of  the  physician  were 
skillfully  planned,  and  are  so  attractive  as  to  be  valuable 
auxiliaries  to  the  beneficent  work  of  the  hospital. 

The  contractors  deserve  credit  for  their  fidelity  and  excel- 
lent workmanship.  And  not  less  do  the  committee  of  the 
trustees,  Messrs.  Hayden,  Alsop,  and  Woodward,  under 
whose  care  the  building  was  erected  ; that  the  materials 
used  were  so  good,  and  that  the  cost  was  within  the  appro- 
priation. 


380 


The  last  legislature  appropriated  fifty  thousand  dollars  for 
an  additional  wing  for  men.  The  construction  of  this  is  car- 
ried rapidly  forward  by  Messrs.  Hayden,  English,  and  Bar- 
rows,  trustees,  who  were  appointed  by  the  governor  commis- 
sioners for  this  business. 

The  skill  of  the  architects,  Mr.  David  R.  Brown  of  New 
Haven  and  Mr.  Jasper  D.  Sibley  of  Middletown,  is  in  this 
connection  deserving  of  special  recognition. 

The  whole  number  of  patients  in  the  hospital  during  the 
seven  months  of  the  year  covered  by  this  report  was  1,132. 

The  number  remaining  June  30,  1885,  was  1,019. 

For  female  patients  there  is  room  for  all  who  need  care. 

A more  complete  classification  of  patients  is  one  excellent 
result  of  the  increased  accommodations.  This  affords  a bet- 
ter opportunity  to  cure  some,  and  to  benefit  many  others. 

The  farm  has  been  well  tilled,  and  has  yielded  good  crops. 
The  increased  number  of  patients  requires  a larger  number 
of  cows.  For  these  the  farm  furnishes  insufficient  pasturage. 
Additional  land  may  be  required  for  this  purpose,  at  an  early 
day. 

Many  hospitals  in  the  country  have  provided  a house  es- 
pecially for  the  superintendent  and  his  family.  For  obvious 
reasons  such  an  one  is  desirable  here. 

Two  years  ago  the  trustees  appointed  a committee  to  con- 
sider this  subject.  Last  year  it  was  determined  to  undertake 
the  work  this  year. 

During  the  spring  it  was  decided  to  put  up  a suitable 
house,  neat  and  well  proportioned,  but  not  too  large  or 
costly.  The  work  is  progressing  favorably.  There  is  good 
reason  to  believe  that  this  will  contribute  to  the  health  and 
effective  power  of  the  superintendent,  and  be  of  permanent 
advantage  to  the  institution. 

The  importance  of  carrying  the  waste  water  and  the  sew- 
age quickly  from  the  hospital  buildings  is  becoming  yearly 
more  evident,  and  has  received  no  little  attention  heretofore. 
This  year  the  sewer  has  been  partially  rebuilt,  and  the  sys- 
tem extended,  so  that  it  drains  not  only  the  main  hospital, 
but  the  south  and  the  new  south.  The  natural  slope  of  the 


381 


land  eastward  enables  this  to  be  done  at  a moderate  expense. 
At  the  same  time  it  makes  useful,  not  only  the  liquid  but 
solid  sewage,  in  fertilizing  the  farm. 

In  respect  to  this  and  other  important  matters  the  report 
of  the  superintendent  and  treasurer  herewith  presented  will 
furnish  fuller  information. 

The  fidelity  and  skill  of  the  superintendent  and  his  assist- 
ants to  the  interests  of  this  institution,  and  of  the  unfortu- 
nate and  defenseles  men  and  women  under  their  care,  as  in 
the  past,  so  now  deserve  recognition  and  high  commendation. 
The  calm  and  humane  spirit  in  which  responsible  and  often 
trying  duties  are  performed,  is  an  advantage  not  only  to  the 
patients,  but  to  thousands  of  their  kindred  and  friends,  who 
are  comforted  by  the  confidence  that  the  insane  are  here  in 
safe  hands,  and  will  receive  the  best  and  tenderest  care. 

For  this  reason  if  no  other,  the  interior  as  well  as  the  ex- 
terior of  the  hospital  is  made  inviting,  giving  to  those  who 
enter  it  for  the  first  time  the  impression,  not  of  a prison  or 
house  of  detention,  but  rather  of  a large  and  comfortable 
mansion,  in  which  as  much  cheerfulness  and  as  many  home 
comforts  will  be  found  as  may  be  of  substantial  advantage 
to  the  patients,  and  to  all  who  are  caring  for  them. 

A visit  to  the  hospital,  when  it  is  thus  equipped,  tends  to 
relieve  friends  of  a heavy  burden,  as  they  perceive  the  attrac- 
tiveness of  the  rooms  and  the  spirit  of  those  in  charge. 

The  same  influence  is  exercised,  when  in  favorable  weather 
hundreds  of  men  are  seen  on  the  lawn  or  in  the  summer 
house,  who  have  the  appearance  of  persons  off  duty  for  a 
holiday,  rather  than  as  belonging  to  a class  that  not  many 
years  ago  were  regarded  as  so  destructive  and  dangerous 
that  they  must  be  restrained  by  prison  bars  and  chains. 

In  intelligent  care  for  the  insane  and  in  devices  to  bring 
rays  of  comfort  to  minds  clouded  and  distressed,  many  of 
whom  would  otherwise  be  friendless  as  well  as  poor,  the  Con- 
necticut hospital  has  gained  a place  in  the  foremost  rank  of 
similar  institutions  on  this  continent,  or  elsewhere. 

It  adds  to  the  satisfaction  with  which  a citizen  of  Connec- 
ticut may  regard  this  great  charity,  that  the  whole  cost,  from 


382 


the  beginning,  has  been  much  less  than  most  of  the  corre- 
sponding ones  in  other  States. 

His  Excellency  Governor  Harrison,  having  resigned  his 
office  as  trustee  on  becoming  ex  officio  member  of  the  board, 
ex-Governor  English,  who  in  former  years  rendered  the  hos- 
pital essential  service,  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

The  terms  of  office  of  the  members  from  New  London  and 
Windham  counties  expire  in  June  next. 

We  would  respectfully  request  that  they  be  reappointed. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

HENRY  B.  HARRISON, 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 
CLARK  E.  BARROWS, 
JAMES  E.  ENGLISH, 
HENRY  WOODWARD, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 

H.  P.  GEIB,  M.D., 

JOSEPH  W.  ALSOP,  M.D., 
ELISHA  B.  NYE,  M.D., 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LUCIUS  S.  PULLER. 

Middletown,  June  30,  1885. 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane : 

Gentlemen  — In  compliance  with  the  requirements  of 
Chapter  XL,  Public  Acts  of  the  General  Assembly,  1885, 
this  twentieth  report  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  covers  a period  of  only  seven  months  from  December 
1,  1884,  to  June  30, 1885,  inclusive.  To  those  of  you  who  are 
familiar  with  the  detail  history  of  the  hospital,  it  is  not 
necessary  to  say  that  this  period  has  been  one  of  great 
activity  and  decided  progress  in  all  that  concerns  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  institution.  A larger  number  of  patients  has 
been  under  treatment  than  ever  before.  A new  building 
erected  under  your  supervision,  most  complete  in  all  its 
arrangements,  has  been  opened  for  the  reception  of  female 
patients.  For  the  first  time  in  its  history  the  hospital  has 
been  able  to  receive  all  patients  without  notice,  and  vacant 
rooms  are  ready  for  others  who  may  need  to  come. 

So  far  as  I am  able  to  learn,  the  town  almshouses  have  been 
relieved  of  all  insane.  If  any  deranged  persons  are  still  un- 
provided for,  the  blame  must  rest  upon  the  friends  or  public 
officials  who  have  neglected  to  send  them  to  the  hospital. 
Thus  the  original  purpose  of  those  who  were  instrumental  in 
founding  a hospital  for  all  of  the  insane  of  Connecticut  has 
been  carried  out  within  a period  of  nineteen  years. 

There  were  in  the  hospital  at  the  commencement  of  the 
year  923  patients,  413  men  and  510  women. 

During  the  seven  months  209  have  been  admitted,  103 
men  and  106  women  ; making  the  whole  number  under 
treatment  1,132. 

The  number  of  patients  discharged  was  78,  of  whom  35 


384 


were  men  and  39  were  women.  There  were  39  deaths,  19 
men  and  20  women. 

The  average  number  of  patients  was  946,  of  whom  427 
were  men  and  518  were  women.  The  number  remaining  at 
this  date  (June  30th)  is  1,019,  462  men  and  557  women. 

This  disparity  in  numbers  between  the  sexes  may  be  ex- 
plained in  three  ways.  In  Connecticut  there  are  more 
women  than  men  ; a larger  proportion  of  insane  men  recover 
or  die,  while  insane  women  more  frequently  pass  into  a state 
of  partial  chronic  dementia  which  tends  to  prolong  life. 
Hence  a gradual  but  steady  accumulation  of  chronic  cases. 
The  character  of  the  admissions  has  not  varied  essentially 
from  former  years.  Of  the  209,  51  were  readmissions,  per- 
sons who  had  been  inmates  of  this  hospital  previously. 
A majority  of  these  were  taken  away  to  make  room  for  more 
urgent  cases  and  returned  as  soon  as  the  new  building  was 
opened.  As  showing  the  unfavorable  character  of  many  of 
the  admissions,  it  should  be  mentioned  that  there  were  7 cases 
of  general  paresis,  10  of  epilepsy,  5 of  imbecility,  and  in  42 
others  the  duration  of  insanity  on  admission  varied  from  10 
to  40  years.  No  reasonable  hope  of  recovery  can  be  enter- 
tained in  any  of  these  cases.  Sixty-jive'  were  acute  or  recent 
cases  of  insanity  ; that  is,  in  65  cases  the  symptoms  of  insan- 
ity dated  back  less  than  six  months  from  time  of  admission. 
It  is  in  this  small  class  that  we  find  our  hopeful  cases.  Five 
persons  were  admitted  under  20  years  of  age  — the  youngest 
being  only  13. 

The  oldest  person  admitted  was  aged  90,  and  there  .were 
43  between  the  ages  of  70  and  90  years.  I do  not  suppose 
that  there  is  a real  increase  of  insanity  in  persons  over  60 ; 
for  the  moral  and  mental  causes  of  insanity  do  not  then  act 
with  such  intensity  as  in  earlier  periods  of  life,  but  there  ap- 
pears to  be  a growing  tendency  on  the  part  of  friends  and  pub- 
lic officials  to  send  old  people  whose  peculiarities  and  eccentrici- 
ties have  become  exaggerated ; whose  powers  of  self-control 
have  grown  less  than  in  middle  life.  Then,  too,  I think  society 
has  of  late  become  less  tolerant  of  individual  morbid  pecu- 
liarities. I could  point  to  many  of  these  cases  that  I am  sure 


385 


would  not  have  been  sent  to  an  asylum  25  years  ago.  All  of 
these  persons,  however,  are  weak  in  mind  and  body  and 
unable  to  properly  care  for  themselves.  The  hospital  is  there- 
fore doing  its  legitimate  work  in  receiving  them,  even  at  the 
risk  of  lengthening  its  mortuary  tables. 

Three  insane  convicts  were  transferred  from  Wethersfield 
prison  ; one  of  whom  was  returned  by  the  medical  examining 
commission  after  3 months’  observation  at  hospital. 

Of  the  209  persons  admitted,  129  are  supported  by  the 
State  and  towns  (paupers),  75  by  State  and  friends  (indigents), 
and  5 by  self  or  friends  (paying). 

We  record  five  men  and  two  women  as  not  insane.  One 
of  these  was  a case  of  feigning;  while  all  of  the  others  were 
simply  cases  of  inebriety. 

DISCHARGES. 

A report  covering  a period  of  only  seven  months  cannot  be 
expected  to  give  valuable  statistics,  for  the  time  is  not  long 
enough  to  furnish  complete  results. 

Nearly  all  the  cases  terminating  in  recovery  were  of  short 
duration,  and  of  persons  who  were  brought  to  the  hospital 
without  delay.  It  is  a popular  notion  that  cases  of  melan- 
cholia are  most  unfavorable.  The  intense  despondency 
blended  with  delusions  of  having  committed  some  unpardon- 
able sin  or  of  being  possessed  by  the  devil,  causes  the  intens- 
est  emotional  disturbance.  The  common  belief  is  that  such 
cases  do  not  get  well.  As  a matter  of  fact  we  find  them 
most  curable.  A word  of  caution  should  be  given  respecting 
this  class  of  “ religious  melancholiacs.”  They  are  all  suicidal 
or  homicidal , and  the  propensity  is  often  the  first  symptom  to 
be  recognized  and  the  last  to  depart.  As  a result  patients  are 
sometimes  discharged  too  soon,  or  are  taken  away  by  friends 
before  having  fully  recovered. 

We  had  one  such  case  this  year  of  a very  unfavorable 
character,  who  made  rapid  progress  towards  recovery. 
Unfortunately,  her  husband  came  to  visit  the  hospital  and, 
finding  her  so  much  improved,  insisted  upon  taking  her  home 


25 


386 


even  against  our  earnest  protest,  to  place  her  in  a faith 
cure.  Within  a few  days  the  neighborhood  was  aroused  by 
the  cry  of  “ murder  ! ” An  officer  rushed  into  the  house  just 
in  time  to  divert  the  blow  which  was  aimed  at  her  infant 
child  by  this  insane  mother.  She  gave  as  an  excuse  that 
“ she  was  going  to  send  the  child  to  heaven.55 

Change  is  often  beneficial  to  insane  patients.  Where 
a patient  seems  uncomfortable  and  not  improving,  I remove 
him  to  another  ward  where  he  may  have  new  associates  and 
different  surroundings.  A complete  renovation  of  a ward  or 
building  and  the  substitution  of  new  furniture  is  generally 
followed  by  marked  improvement  in  the  conduct  of  the 
patients.  They  instinctively  mend  their  habits  and  take 
better  care  of  themselves.  This  was  shown  in  a manifest  de- 
gree in  May  when  the  new  south  hospital  was  opened. 
Many  of  the  women  transferred  to  that  building  had  been  for 
years  irritable,  destructive,  and  somewhat  noisy.  A most 
marked  improvement  has  taken  place  in  their  general  appear- 
ance and  behavior. 

DEATHS. 

With  a family  of  one  thousand  diseased  persons,  43  of 
whom  had  passed  beyond  the  age  of  70,  a large  death  rate 
might  reasonably  be  expected.  It  is  therefore  the  more 
gratifying  to  report  general  good  health  and  a small  mortality 
rate.  The  total  number  of  deaths  (39)  is  below  the  average. 
What  is  cpiite  unusual  the  mortality  among  males  is  less  than 
among  ferhales.  The  cause  of  death  wras  tubercular  con- 
sumption in  9 ; general  paralysis,  4 ; marasmus,  3 ; pneumonia, 
3;  maniacal  exhaustion,  3;  exhaustion  in  acute  melancholia, 
2 ; erysipelas,  2;  disease  of  heart,  2 ; old  age,  2 ; and  one  each 
from  apoplexy,  bright’s  disease,  epilepsy,  entero-colitis, 
diarrhoea,  gastro-enteritis,  hydrothorax,  tumor  of  the  brain, 
and  suicide. 

The  average  age  of  all  who  died  was  48.64  years. 


887 


Deaths  and  their  Ratios,  from  May  1,  1868,  to  June  30,  1885. 


c3 

O 

© 

fH 

a> 

^ 0Q 

© 

c3  O 

O * 

> © 
<1^  <5 

Deaths. 

© 

O 

£1 

e o . 

O t-i  OD 

-*->£3  © 
C r « 

© 

r° 

X!  ■ 

G « d 

03 

‘5 

a 

O 

® .s 

O 03 
£ 

►.11 

Q 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

<u  d-rl 
« £ * 
Ph 

© <3  "O 

Pk 

1868-69, 

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17.57 

1869-70, 

343 

225  17 

18 

3 

21 

6.12 

9.32 

1870-71, 

307 

237. 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72, 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-73, 

336 

264.53 

12 

9 

21 

6 25 

7.86 

1873-74, 

524 

339.51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75, 

605 

425.80 

21 

15 

36 

5.95 

8.45 

1875-76, 

616 

452.64 

26 

7 

33 

5.35 

7.31 

1876,  8 mo., 
Dec.  1,  ’76, 

548 

456.97 

9 

6 

15 

2.73 

3.28 

Nov.  30,  ’77, 

619 

463.88 

19 

12 

31 

5.01 

6.69 

1877-78, 

629 

474.17 

27 

13 

40 

6.36 

8.43 

1878-79, 

644 

498  34 

9 

10 

19 

2.95 

3.81 

1879-80, 

654 

514.63 

16 

14 

30 

4.58 

5.82 

1880-81, 

881 

608.51 

32 

12 

44 

5.00 

7.24 

1881-82, 

1079 

789.27 

47 

32 

79 

7.32 

10.01 

1882-83, 

1113 

854.5 

43 

37 

80 

7.18 

9.36 

1883-84, 

1103 

881.2 

34 

21 

55 

4.98 

6 22 

1884-85, 

1132 

946.31 

19 

20 

39 

3.44 

4.12 

GENERAL  HISTORY. 

In  my  last  report  I described  briefly  the  special  arrange- 
ments we  had  made  for  the  epileptic  male  patients.  In  the 
new  south  hospital  there  is  a ward  arranged  for  and  occupied 
by  the  same  class  of  females.  These  patients  are  under  the 
care  of  attendants  day  and  night  and  a record  kept  of  all  the 
seizures.  By  this  special  care  such  accidents  as  are  liable  to 
result  from  epilepsy  are  reduced  to  the  minimum;  at  the 
same  time  we  are  better  able  to  watch  the  effects  of  remedies, 
diet,  and  exercise. 

The  medical  and  moral  treatment  of  other  classes  of 
patients  has  been  conducted  on  the  same  general  principles  as 
detailed  in  previous  reports. 

Believing  most  thoroughly  in  the  doctrine  of  “good  liv- 
ing,” we  have  prescribed  a generous  diet  of  milk,  eggs,  butter, 
and  cod  liver  oil  in  the  early  stages  of  insanity  with  gratify- 


388 


ing  results.  During  no  previous  year  have  so  many  of  our 
patients  enjoyed  limited  and  unlimited  parole. 

As  we  only  prescribe  mechanical  restraint  in  surgical  cases, 
the  daily  record  of  restraint  has  not  reached  one  quarter  of 
one  per  cent.  Occupation  in  the  garden  or  on  the  farm  con- 
tinues to  form  a prominent  feature  of  the  daily  life  of  our 
male  patients,  while  the  women  who  are  able  render  valuable 
assistance  in  the  ward  work,  sewing  room,  kitchen,  and 
laundry. 

During  the  pleasant  months  all  others,  who  are  physically 
able,  are  out  of  doors  from  two  to  six  hours  daily.  Notwith- 
standing the  increased  opportunities  afforded,  the  number  of 
attempted  escapes  has  lessened  year  by  year.  We  continue 
to  find  our  four  farm  cottages  convenient  and  useful  adjuncts 
in  providing  for  the  quiet  chronic  insane. 

Among  the  many  improvements  made  during  this  period, 
should  be  mentioned  the  painting  of  the  walls  of  the  dormi- 
tories and  halls  of  the  south  hospital ; also  the  removal  of  the 
wood  floors  of  water-closets  and  bath-rooms,  and  the  substitu- 
tion of  iron  joist,  brick  arches,  and  slate  tile  floors;  to  give  in- 
creased ventilation,  two  brick  flues  3x3,  were  carried  up  from 
the  cellar  to  9 feet  above  the  roof,  in  which  a strong  upward 
current  is  created  by  the  heat  from  the  hot-water  boilers 
placed  at  the  base;  many  of  the  wards  in  the  main  hospital 
have  been  repainted  in  a tasteful  and  cheerful  manner.  On 
ward  2 a large  room  formerly  used  as  a dormitory  has  been 
furnished  as  a pleasant  day  room  or  parlor.  Such  a renova- 
tion of  a house  has  many  advantages  besides  the  extra  com- 
fort it  affords. 

In  the  meantime  we  have  not  been  idle  out  of  doors ; never 
before  were  the  lawn,  flower  beds,  and  garden  so  attractive; 
and  during  the  whole  season  about  forty  male  patients  have 
been  at  work  grading  around  the  new  south  hospital ; we  have 
at  last  finished  the  main  sewer  and  its  branches,  and  are  thus 
relieved  of  solicitude  respecting  the  distribution  of  its  contents. 
At  this  early  date  (July  1st),  nothing  can  be  said  respecting 
the  farm  products,  except  that  all  the  indications  are  favor- 
able to  a large  crop. 


389 


FINANCIAL  EXHIBIT. 


During  the  period  covered  by  this  report  the  hospital  lias 
received  for  all  public  patients  $3.50  per  week.  Fortunately, 
the  cost  of  fuel,  lights,  and  necessary  provisions  has  been 
generally  lower  than  in  previous  years,  and  we  are  able  to 
make  all  repairs  and  improvements  and  show  a balance  on  the 
credit  side.  For  details  I refer  you  to  the  accompanying 
financial  tables. 

ENTERTAINMENTS. 


The  monotony  of  hospital  life  during  the  long  winter 
evenings  was  relieved  by  a variety  of  entertainments,  such  as 
dramatic  representations,  concerts,  lectures,  and  readings. 
In  the  summer  evenings  the  hospital  band  has  given  outdoor 
concerts  twice  every  week.  The  following  list  serves  to  show 
the  variety  and  character  of  the  entertainments  provided  : 


Concert,  hospital  troupe, 

“ Wesleyan  Glee  Club, 

Dramatic  entertainment,  hospital  troupe,  .... 

Roller  skating, 

Sociable,  with  dancing, 

Lecture,  illustrated  with  stereopticon,  “ The  Indians,”  by 

Frederick  Gardiner,  Jr., 

“ illustrated  with  stereopticon,  “China,”  by  Yan 
Phou  Lee,  ....... 

“ illustrated  with  stereopticon,  “ California,”  by  Dr. 

A.  M.  Shew, 

“ illustrated  with  stereopticon,  “ The  Adirondacks,” 
by  Dr.  A.  M.  Shew,  . . . . ' . 

“ “Egypt  and  the  Nile,”  by  Rev.  S.  D.  Phelps, 

D.D 

“ “ The  Alps,”  by  Rev.  C.  A.  Piddock,  . 

“ “ Ceylon  and  India,”  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Leitch, 

“ “ Nebraska,”  by  Rev.  M.  A.  Holt, 

Reading,  Edward  Fabian, 

“ Mrs.  Edna  Chaffee  Noble, 

Mr.  D.  G.  Lawson, 

“ Miss  Janie  G.  Savage, 

“ Miss  Louisa  Leslie, 

“ Prof.  S.  T.  Ford, 

Outdoor  concerts,  hospital  band, 


2 evenings. 

1 

2 

1 

11 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

19 


390 


DONATIONS. 


From  the  estate  of  Frederic  Marquand,  $150,  to  be  used  for 
the  benefit  of  the  patients. 

Mrs.  M.  G.  Perry,  Southport,  Conn.,  a box  of  books  and 
magazines. 

Mr.  T.  S.  Gold,  Secretary  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
copies  of  Agricultural  Reports  from  this  and  other  States. 

H.  D.  A.  Ward,  Esq.,  Middletown,  illustrated  papers, 
magazines,  and  several  books. 

M.  B.  Copeland,  Esq.,  a large  package  of  bound  volumes 
and  magazines. 

Prof.  W.  O.  Atwater,  books  and  magazines. 

William  E.  Thomas,  Esq.,  one  copy  of  Estey’s  Organ 
Method. 

Mr.  Charles  E.  Lyman,  Middlefield,  a wagon-load  of  early 
apples. 

Mr.  George  S.  Parmelee,  Middletown,  six  books. 

Also,  the  publishers  of  the  following  newspapers  gratuitous 
copies  furnished  during  the  year : 


The  Courant,  daily, 

The  Post,  daily,  . 

The  Times,  weekly, 

Religious  Herald,  weekly, 

The  Palladium,  weekly,  . 

Tolland  County  Journal,  weekly, 
Tolland  County  Leader,  weekly, 
Sheltering  Arms,  monthly, 

The  Herald,  daily, 

The  Sentinel  and  Witness,  weekly, 
The  Constitution,  weekly, 

The  Enterprise,  weekly,  . 

The  Review,  weekly, 

Bridgeport  Standard,  weekly, 
Weekly  Witness,  weekly, 

The  Transcript,  weekly,  . 

The  Regions  Beyond,  monthly, 
Prairie  Home,  weekly, 


Hartford. 

Hartford. 

Hartford. 

Hartford 

New  Haven. 

Rockville. 

Rockville. 

New  York. 

Middletown. 

Middletown. 

Middletown. 

Naugatuck. 

Naugatuck. 

Bridgeport. 

New  York. 

Portland,  Me. 

London,  Eng. 

Carthage,  Dak. 


391 


SUNDAY  RELIGIOUS  SERVICES. 

Rev.  T.  W.  Coit,  D.D.,  ....  Middletown,  Conn. 

Rev.  William  North  Rice,  .... 

Rev.  John  Townsend,  .... 

Rev.  Harrison  Closson,  .... 

Rev.  C.  A.  Piddock,  .... 

Rev.  W.  A.  Johnson,  D.D., 

Rev.  W.  Y.  Kelley,  D.D.,  .... 

Rev.  W.  C.  Foster,  .... 

Rev.  John  Binney,  .... 

Rev.  C.  A.  Bond,  .... 

Rev.  F.  Gardiner,  D.D.,  . 

Rev.  J.  E.  Allen,  .... 

Rev.  Richard  L.  deZeng,  .... 

Rev.  F.  S.  Hoffman,  .... 

Rev.  J.  W.  Tuck,  .... 

Rev.  Richard  Povey,  ....  Portland,  Conn. 

Rev.  A.  W.  Holt,  ....  Cromwell, 

Rev.  L.  J.  Dudley,  . . . . “ 

Rev.  D.  M.  Pratt,  ....  Higganum, 


CONCLUSION. 

No  changes  have  occurred  among  the  officers  since  our 
last  report. 

I cannot  close  without  once  more  expressing  the  deep 
obligation  I am  under  to  those  who  are  associated  with  me 
in  this  work,  for  their  continued  and  efficient  service.  To 
the  members  of  your  board  I am  greatly  indebted  for 
hearty  and  intelligent  co-operation  and  personal  kindness. 
For  all  our  blessings,  and  for  that  protection  which  has 
guarded  us  from  many  dangers,  renewed  acknowledgments 
are  due  to  an  overruling  Providence.  Reverently  invoking 
Ilis  blessing,  I again  commend  this  institution  to  your  con- 
tinued oversight,  and  to  the  fostering  aid  of  an  enlightened 
commonwealth. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

ABRAM  MARVIN  SHEW,  M.D., 

Superinienden  t. 


Middletown,  Conn.,  June  30,  1885. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  Greneral  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut : 

The  board  of  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane,  at  the  completion  of  twenty  years  from  its  organiza- 
tion, respectfully  present  their  twenty-first  report. 

As  reported  last  year,  the  erection  of  the  wing,  completing 
the  new  south  hospital  building,  was  by  Governor  Harrison 
placed  in  charge  of  Messrs.  Hayden,  English,  and  Barrows 
trustees,  who  have  finished  the  work  of  building  and  furnish- 
ing the  same  for  less  than  the  appropriation  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars. 

They  have  the  pleasure  of  returning  to  the  State  treasurer 
a balance  of  two  thousand  dollars. 

This  building,  which  was  designed  for  and  is  used  by  the 
epileptic  and  other  chronic  insane,  will  accommodate  three 
hundred. 

It  is  found  well  adapted  for  its  purpose,  and  at  a cost  of 
only  four  hundred  dollars  for  each  patient.  They  have  large, 
well-lighted  and  ventilated  dining,  day,  office,  and  reception 
rooms,  dormitories  and  single  rooms. 

The  interior  arrangements  are  so  complete  in  design  and 
finish  as  to  be  universally  admired  by  experts  from  far  and 
near,  who  have  examined  and  adopted  them  as  models  for 
other  buildings  for  a like  purpose. 

The  cottage  required  for  the  residence  of  the  late  superin- 
tendent, mentioned  in  the  last  report  as  in  process  of  con- 
struction, has  been  completed  and  occupied. 

It  is  gratifying  to  reflect  that  the  last  weeks  of  the  lamented 
Dr.  Sliew’s  life  were  spent  in  this  quiet  retreat  from  the  noise 


f 


398 

and  bustle  of  the  hospital  building,  where  he  was  much  more 
comfortable  than  he  would  otherwise  have  been. 

The  trustees  have  long  felt  the  need  of  additional  pasture 
land.  Availing  themselves  of  an  opportunity  to  purchase, 
they  have  secured  seventy  acres  well  adapted  to  their  wants 
in  Middlefield,  for  the  sum  of  $1,450.  On  this  land  they 
have  pastured  seventeen  head  of  cattle  during  the  summer. 

Other  needed  facilities  and  conveniences  for  the  care  of 
the  large  and  increasing  family  have  been  required  and 
furnished.  To  this  work  of  twenty  years  they  respectfully 
invite  the  members  of  the  general  assembly  and  the  people  of 
our  honored  commonwealth.  They  have  now  accommoda- 
tions for  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  patients  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  others,  whose  duty  it  is  to  provide  and  care  for  these 
afflicted  ones.  They  hope  and  trust  this  will  be  found  suf- 
ficient. 

At  the  first  you  did  not  require  them  to  furnish  accommo- 
dations for  insane  convicts,  but  as  soon  as  possible  after  the 
passage  of  the  present  law,  they  provided  a separate  building 
for  this  class.  They  respectfully  report  that  they  find  serious 
inconvenience  in  the  practical  working  of  this  department. 

As  the  State  is  now  providing  better  accommodations  at 
Wethersfield,  they  hope  your  committee  on  State  prison  will 
afford  individual  members  of  the  board  and  others  deeply 
interested  in  this  matter  an  opportunity  to  explain  the  wrong 
of  the  present  system. 

The  associating  the  work  of  a prison,  with  its  bolts  and 
bars,  with  that  of  a curative  institution,  is  not  in  the  interest 
of  humanity.  As  it  is  known  to  those  inside  the  prison  walls 
and  to  their  friends  outside  that  desirable  transfers  can  be 
obtained  through  a commission,  there  have  been  frequent 
demands  for  changes,  although  so  far  as  they  can  learn  none 
of  their  patients  have  desired  a transfer  to  Wethersfield. 

In  their  opinion,  you  should  furnish  complete  accommoda- 
tion inside  your  prison  walls  for  all  convicts,  whether  in  sick- 
ness or  health,  sane  or  insane. 

By  the  provisions  of  the  will  of  the  late  George  Atwater, 


394 


and  on  final  settlement  of  the  estate  by  the  executor,  the 
hospital  has  come  into  possession  of  a fund  amounting  to 
twenty-one  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-nine  dollars  and 
seventy-one  cents  ($21,549.71)  to  be  kept  separate  from  the 
other  property  of  the  hospital,  and  known  as  the  Atwater 
Fund. 

This  amount  has  been  deposited  with  their  treasurer,  and 
is  to  be  kept  invested  under  the  direction  of  the  trustees. 

The  annual  income  from  this  fund  is  to  be  used  for  the 
support  of  the  insane  poor  of  Connecticut,  giving  preference 
to  those  belonging  to  the  town  of  Hamden. 

By  the  will  of  the  late  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Townsend  of  New 
Haven,  the  executor,  Judge  Hayden,  is  directed  to  safely 
invest  and  deposit  a sufficient  amount  with  the  trustees,  the 
interest  of  which  will  be  sufficient  to  provide  for  all  time  a 
bed  at  the  hospital,  to  be  known  as  the  Townsend  bed ; the 
executor  to  name  the  patient  thus  provided  for. 

This  is  the  first  opportunity  afforded  them  of  reporting 
individual  help  in  providing  accommodation  for  the  insane. 
This  supplementing  the  noble  work  of  the  State,  from  whom 
they  have  received  liberal  appropriations,  is  a pleasure  to  the 
trustees,  affording  evidence  of  the  undiminished  confidence 
of  the  public.  They  hope  other  sums  may  be  received,  but 
trust  it  may  not  all  come  through  the  executors,  but  rather 
that  individuals  during  life  should  provide  free  beds ; visit 
the  hospital  and  witness  its  practical  working,  and  thereby 
learn  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive. 

In  the  nineteenth  report  they  made  mention  of  the  death, 
on  the  10th  of  March,  of  their  lamented  friend  and  fellow 
co-trustee,  Richard  S.  Fellowes  of  New  Haven,  who  had  for 
many  years  prepared  their  reports. 

The  kind  words  there  expressed  and  their  sorrow  for  the 
loss  of  one  so  dear  to  them  and  useful  to  the  State  were 
written  by  the  trustee  from  Colchester,  Rev.  S.  G.  Willard, 
who  is  their  valued  secretary.  His  voice  and  pen  have  ren- 
dered important  help  these  twenty  years,  and  at  their  last 
quarterly  meeting  by  unanimous  vote  Rev.  Mr.  Willard  was 


395 


requested  to  write  this  report,  but  alas  ! this  is  not  to  be,  as 
it  is  the  will  of  our  Heavenly  Father  that  others  must,  as 
best  they  may,  stand  in  the  lot,  and  do  the  work  so  long  and 
well  done  by  him.  He  is  on  a bed  of  sickness,  having  been 
stricken  down  several  months  since.  They  continue  to  hope 
and  pray  that  he  may  be  spared  and  restored  to  them,  but  if 
not,  as  Christian  men  engaged  in  a work  of  charity  and 
mercy,  in  deep  humility  will  say  66  Thy  will  be  done.” 

Before  they  close  this  report,  one  duty  yet  remains.  The 
charter  granted  at  the  May  session,  1866,  directed  your 
trustees  after  selecting  a suitable  site  for  the  hospital  to 
elect  a superintendent  who  should  personally  assist  in  the 
erection  of  the  buildings.  Fortunately  they  made  choice  of 
Dr.  A.  Marvin  Shew  to  attend  to  and  direct  this  matter. 
For  twenty  years  Dr.  Shew  was  with  them  ; of  his  personal 
worth  and  valued  services  they  have  made  frequent  mention. 
No  one  could  have  accomplished  more  in  hastening  forward 
the  work,  or  have  taken  better  care  of  the  afflicted  ones  sent 
to  the  hospital.  He  had  marked  executive  ability  ; inspired 
hope  in  the  patients ; confidence  on  the  part  of  the  public 
and  of  those  associated  with  him.  Suitable  testimonials  will  be 
found  on  their  record  book.  He  died  on  Monday,  the  12th 
of  April.  Death  was  occa^oned  by  a fall  on  the  stairway  of 
the  main  hospital  which  injured  the  spinal  cord  at  the  base 
of  the  brain,  and  though  not  supposed  fatal,  after  some 
weeks  of  suffering  terminated  in  apoplexy. 

They  are  fortunate  in  filling  the  vacancy  thus  made  by  the 
appointment  of  Dr.  James  Olmstead,  who  has  been  first 
assistant  physician  for  ten  years,  and  is  well  qualified  to  fill 
the  office  of  superintendent. 

For  full  particulars  of  the  movement  of  population,  num- 
ber of  individuals  cared  for  during  the  year,  the  products  of 
the  farm,  amount  paid  for  various  articles  purchased,  etc., 
they  refer  you  to  the  separate  reports  annexed. 


396 


The  terms  of  office  of  members  from  New  Haven  and 
Middlesex  counties  expire  in  June  next,  and  of  Litchfield 
and  Fairfield  counties  expire  in  1888  during  the  recess  of  the 
legislature. 


HENRY  B.  HARRISON, 
JAMES  E.  ENGLISH, 
HENRY  WOODWARD, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 

H.  P.  GEIB,  M.D., 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 
SAMUEL  G.  WILLARD, 
CLARK  E.  BARROWS, 
JOSEPH  W.  ALSOP,  M.D., 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 
ELISHA  B.  NYE,  M.D., 


New  Haven . 
New  Haven . 
Middletown . 
Norfolk . 
Stamford . 
Windsor . 
Tolland . 
Colchester . 
Eastford. 
Middletown . 
Middletown . 
Middletown . 


Middletown,  June  30,  1886. 


The  Building  Committee  of  1886  for  the  completion  of  the 
New  South  Hospital,  were  authorized  to  expend  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  Fortunate  in  their  contracts  and  with  their  con- 
tractors, they  expended  forty-eight  thousand  and  returned 
two  thousand  dollars  to  the  State,  trusting  thereby  to  present 
an  object-lesson  to  others  having  a like  duty. 


[certificate.] 

The  books  of  the  Treasurer’s  Office  show  the  return  of  the 
above  mentioned  sum,  and  the  Treasurer’s  Report  for  1887 
contains  that  item  among  the  receipts. 

B.  F.  MARSH, 

j For  Treasurer. 


Hartford,  Conn.,  April  8,  1895. 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane : 

Gentlemen  — The  report  of  the  operations  of  the  hospital 
during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1886,  is  presented 
with  sadness  and  a deep  sense  of  the  loss  sustained  in  the 
death  of  that  able  and  accomplished  superintendent,  who 
from  the  birth  of  this  institution  until  now  has  been  your 
agent  in  managing  its  affairs.  Those  whose  daily  duties 
were  most  intimately  associated  with  his,  cherish  most  ten- 
derly the  memory  of  the  genial  traits  of  character  which 
endeared  him  to  us,  and  still  feel  his  influence  over  us, 
months  after  that  solemn  April  morning  when  he  “ fell 
asleep.” 

During  the  past  year  our  cares  have  not  been  light.  At 
its  beginning  1,019  patients  were  in  the  hospital,  and  in  the 
following  twelve  months  361  persons  were  admitted  — 175 
men  and  186  women  ; making  the  total  number  under  treat- 
ment 1,380.  The  discharges,  including  deaths,  were  234  — 
114  men  and  120  women ; leaving  in  the  hospital  at  the  end 
of  the  year  1,146  patients.  The  average  number  present 
was  1,077.84,  of  whom  487.86  were  men  and  589.98  were 
women. 

ADMISSIONS  AND  DISCHARGES.  - 

A large  majority  of  the  admissions,  viz.,  322  out  of  361, 
were  by  order  of  the  probate  court ; 13  persons  were  sent  by 
the  criminal  courts,  and  12  by  order  of  the  Governor ; of 
these  6 were  convicts  transferred  from  prison,  and  6 were 
soldiers  or  seamen  honorably  discharged  from  service  in  the 
Civil  War.  Only  14  were  admitted  whose  friends  paid  their 
entire  expenses. 

Three  persons,  committed  to  our  care  in  consequence  of 
incorrect  opinions  as  to  their  mental  condition,  remained 
under  observation  long  enough  to  remove  all  doubt  of  their 
sanity,  and  were  discharged  as  not  insane. 


398 


As  the  appended  tables  show  in  detail,  18  of  those  admit- 
ted were  in  a state  of  senile  decay ; 20  were  laboring  under 
other  than  the  first  or  second  attack  of  insanity ; 43  pre- 
sented essentially  incurable  conditions,  such  as  long-standing 
epilepsy,  imbecility,  or  paresis  ; no  less  than  140  persons 
were  brought  to  the  hospital  after  the  protracted  duration  of 
their  malady  had  destroyed  all  reasonable  hope  of  recovery. 

Notwithstanding  such  unfavorable  elements  as  these,  we 
were  enabled  to  discharge  73  persons  as  recovered,  and  29 
others  so  greatly  improved  that  they  could  again  participate, 
to  some  extent  at  least,  in  the  duties  and  pleasures  of  their 
home  life.  In  some  of  these  cases  grateful  letters  from  them- 
selves or  their  friends  (who  little  imagine  how  much  such 
welcome  intelligence  cheers  and  strengthens  asylum  workers) 
assured  us  that  the  improvement,  begun  here,  continued 
until  the  patient  was  practically  well.  In  this  connection  it 
may  be  permitted  to  emphasize  the  oft-mentioned  importance 
of  early  treatment.  As  clearly  shown  in  table  XVII,  about 
50  per  cent,  of  those  admitted  during  the  first  three  months 
of  their  illness  have  recovered.  But  the  ratio  regularly 
diminishes  the  longer  treatment  is  postponed.  Thus  does 
the  unwise  reluctance  of  people  to  “ incarcerate,”  as  they 
sometimes  say,  their  friends  in  a hospital,  stand  in  the  way 
of  their  advantage.  However,  there  is  at  least  this  satisfac- 
tion— when  they  do  avail  themselves  of  opportunities  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  institution,  with  the  benevolent 
aims  and  earnest  endeavors  of  those  devoted  to  its  success, 
prejudices  and  unreasonable  suspicions  are  dispelled  from 
candid  minds. 

Not  by  any  means  the  weakest  factor  in  giving  a favorable 
impression  to  newcomers  and  in  contributing  to  the  progress 
of  patients  toward  recovery  has  been  the  erection  of  isolated 
buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  chronic  cases,  many  of 
whom  — untidy,  destructive,  epileptic,  demented  — would 
obviously  exert  a painfully  depressing  effect  upon  some 
curable  cases  formerly  of  necessity  associated  with  them. 
But  as  new  wards  have  been  provided,  these  old  cases  have 
been  transferred,  and  this  process  of  elimination  has  been 


399 


followed  by  a gradual  renovation  of  old  wards  — removing 
prison-like  guards,  introducing  new  and  more  home-like  fur- 
niture — until  the  contrast  has  become  quite  marked  between 
the  present  aspect  of  the  wards  into  which  new  patients  are 
ushered  and  the  appearance  of  the  same  wards  five  or  more 
years  ago.  To  a patient  entering  the  hospital  to-day  there  is 
very  little  that  suggests  the  proximity  of  a large  number  of 
chronic  insane ; and  the  latter,  while  far  enough  away  to 
prevent  the  exercise  of  any  injurious  influence,  are  near 
enough  for  convenience  in  caring  for  them  and  in  providing 
most  economically  everything  necessary  for  their  comfort. 


DEATHS. 

The  ratio  of  deaths  during  the  year  to  the  average  num- 
ber present  was  7.14,  which  is  below  that  of  the  majority  of 
previous  years,  as  shown  by  the  customary  table  of  deaths 
and  their  ratios  from  May  1,  1868,  to  June  30,  1886 : 

Deaths  and  their  Ratios  from  May  1,  1868,  to  June  30,  1886. 


Official  year. 

Whole  number  of 
patients. 

Daily  average  No. 
of  patients. 

Males. 

DEATHS. 

Females. 

Total. 

Ptr  cent,  on  whole 
No.  of  patients. 

Per  cent,  on  daily 
average 

No.  of  patients. 

1868-69, 

268 

85.47 

14 

1 

15 

5.59 

17.57 

1869-70, 

343 

225.17 

18 

3 

21 

6.12 

9.32 

1870-71, 

307 

237.00 

11 

10 

21 

6.71 

8.86 

1871-72, 

329 

242.58 

9 

6 

15 

4.55 

6.18 

1872-73, 

336 

264.53 

12 

9 

21 

6 25 

7.86 

1873-74, 

524 

239.51 

18 

17 

35 

6.67 

10.30 

1874-75, 

605 

425.80 

21 

15 

36 

5 95 

8.45 

1875-76, 

616 

452.64 

26 

7 

33 

5.35 

7.31 

1876,  8 mos., 

548 

456.97 

9 

6 

15 

2.73 

3.28 

1876-77, 

619 

463.88 

19 

12 

31 

5.01 

6.69 

1877-78, 

629 

474.17 

27 

13 

40 

6.36 

8.43 

1878-79, 

644 

498.34 

9 

10 

19 

2.95 

3.81 

1879-80, 

654 

514.63 

16 

14 

30 

4.58 

5 82 

1880-81, 

881 

608.51 

32 

12 

44 

5.00 

7.24 

1881-82, 

1079 

789.27 

47 

32 

79 

7.32 

10.01 

1882-83, 

1113 

854.50 

43 

37 

80 

7.18 

9.36 

1883-84, 

1103 

883.20 

34 

21 

55 

4.98 

6.22 

1884-85,  7 m., 

1132 

946.31 

19 

20 

39 

3.44 

4.12 

1885-86, 

1180 

1077.84 

37 

40 

77 

5.57 

7.14 

In  13  instances  death  appeared  due  solely  to  the  exhaust- 
ing action  of  mental  disorder.  In  other  cases  pathological 
changes  in  various  organs  reached  their  inevitable  termina- 
tion ; thus  17  deaths  resulted  from  pulmonary  consumption, 
4 from  general  paresis,  3 from  diseases  of  the  heart,  5 from 
apoplexy.  In  one  instance  an  accident,  which  could  not 
have  been  foreseen,  resulted  in  the  death  of  a patient.  As 
you  are  aware,  such  procedures  as  the  law  requires  were 
promptly  taken,  and  the  hospital  management  was  exoner- 
ated. It  is  gratifying  to  be  able  to  note  that  no  deaths  were 
occasioned  by  suicide  or  homicide ; and  this  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  an  unusually  large  number  of  suicidal  cases 
were  under  our  care  during  a portion  of  the  year,  causing  us 
extreme  anxiety  and  necessitating  especial  watchfulness  on 
the  part  of  additional  attendants.  Of  those  who  died,  15  had 
passed  their  seventieth  birthday  and  19  had  for  ten  years  or 
longer  lived  under  the  dark  cloud  of  incurable  insanity. 
For  such  souls  what  a happy  release  it  is  to  leave  the  body ! 
Of  them  truly  may  it  be  said,  u ’Tis  the  great  birthright  of 
mankind  to  die.” 

OCCUPATION 

Of  patients  is  an  element  of  treatment  which  receives  in- 
creased attention  year  by  year  as  the  old  shackles  of  me- 
chanical restraints  drop  off.  Each  case  when  admitted  is, 
of  course,  made  the  object  of  individual  study : this  one 
requires  supporting  treatment,  that  one  sedatives.  But 
when  acute  symptoms  are  succeeded  by  convalescence,  and 
for  the  great  mass  of  permanent  residents,  whose  only  home 
is  an  asylum,  the  foremost  question  is  what  can  be  done  to 
divert  their  attention  from  hallucinations,  to  stop  them  from 
nursing  their  delusions,  to  retain  (when  recovery  is  impossi- 
ble) at  least  a remnant  of  intelligent  activity. 

During  the  last  three  months  of  the  year  the  experiment 
of  having  some  of  the  convict  insane  do  the  work  of  mending 
men’s  garments  proved  successful,  and  we  anticipate  enlarg- 
ing the  sphere  of  their  usefulness.  Some  patients,  who  are 
on  parole  and  are  not  counted  as  workers,  cheerfully  exert 


40  L 


themselves  for  the  common  good  : for  example,  to  one  of 
them,  a joiner  by  trade,  we  are  indebted  for  the  construction 
this  summer  of  a commodious  rustic  arbor  on  the  southern 
portion  of  the  grounds.  But  the  problem  of  occupation  is 
far  from  solution,  and  no  duty  taxes  more  severely  the 
ingenuity  and  resources  of  physicians  in  charge  of  the 
chronic  insane. 

The  accompanying  table,  taken  from  the  attendants’  daily 
reports  June  30th,  gives  a partial  idea  of  the  occupations  of 
our  patients,  and  shows  that  more  are  roused  from  listless 
idleness  than  perhaps  the  casual  visitor,  hastily  inspecting, 
would  suppose: 


OCCUPATION. 

Males. 

Females. 

Farm . , 

41 

Stables 

14 

Grounds, 

45 

Workshops, 

3 

Furnaces 

9 

Bakery, 

4 

Laundry, 

5 

3i 

Kitchens, 

20 

12 

Dining-rooms 

60 

40 

Wards 

66 

50 

Centers, 

3 

4 

Sewing-rooms, 

28 

Sewing  in  ward, 

*7 

37 

Totals. 

277 

202 

In  urging  rational  activity  we  are  often  opposed  by  the  in- 
dolence of  patients  or  by  various  arguments  springing  from 
their  delusions,  and  sometimes  we  are  hampered  by  the  igno- 
rance of  friends  who  do  not  appreciate  the  evils  of  inertia. 
Much  depends  on  the  earnest  cooperation  of  nurses  and 
other  attendants  who  are  alive  to  their  responsibilities  and 
ready  to  sacrifice  their  own  comfort  for  the  welfare  of  their 
patients. 

All  patients  who  are  able  at  least  walk  out  daily,  and  dur- 
ing the  warm  weather  the  wards  are  for  hours  practically  de- 


26 


402 


serted.  Almost  every  summer  day,  unless  it  is  too  hot  and 
dusty,  women  from  different  wards  in  rotation  go  out  for  a 
drive.  Some  of  both  sexes  enjoy  the  privilege  of  walking 
about  the  grounds  unattended,  and  a few  have  more  extended 
parole.  With  these  liberties  it  is  natural  that  occasional  at- 
tempts to  escape  should  occur.  During  the  year,  however, 
only  2\  per  cent,  of  those  under  treatment  succeeded  in  thus 
making  their  exit — a number  within  the  average  of  previous 
years.  It  is  especially  gratifying  to  note  the  fact  that  no  es- 
cape resulted  in  any  injury  to  persons  or  property.  Some 
quietly  walked  home  and  either  remained  there  permanently 
after  a visit  returned  to  the  hospital ; others  came  back  volun- 
tarily or  were  brought  back  after  a brief  absence. 

As  during  many  years  past,  the  utmost  freedom  is  granted 
the  men,  who  to  the  number  of  nearly  100  occupy  the  old 
dwelling-houses  under  your  control.  They  go  in  and  out  at 
pleasure,  and  at  the  farm  cottage  all  are  workers. 

ACCOMMODATIONS. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  females  in  the  hospital  popula- 
tion always  outnumber  the  males,  the  new  South  Hospital 
was,  on  its  completion,  devoted  entirely  to  women,  for  whom 
there  is  now  plenty  of  room.  Difficulty  in  accommodating 
male  patients  is,  however,  to  be  apprehended. 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

To  keep  in  repair  so  large  a property,  exposed  to  the  mis- 
use of  irrational  persons,  is  a task  requiring  the  closest 
attention  and  constant  mechanical  labor.  In  your  monthly 
inspections  you  have  observed  that  this  important  work  was 
not  neglected. 

The  growth  of  the  institution  having  created  the  necessity 
of  more  systematic  methods  in  the  keeping  and  distribution 
of  stores,  these  matters  were  in  the  spring  placed  under  the 
charge  of  a storekeeper,  who  receives  goods,  issues  supplies 
on  requisitions  from  housekeepers  or  other  proper  per- 
sons, and  is  able  to  show  an  accurate  account  of  what 


403 


is  given  out.  At  this  date  (June  30th)  the  new  system  has 
begun  to  run  smoothly  and  bids  fair  to  prove  satisfactory. 
For  a storehouse  the  substantial  brick  building  which  had 
been  occupied  as  a joiners’  shop  was  so  conveniently  situated 
and  in  every  respect  so  appropriate  that  you  wisely  put  it  to 
that  use.  A plain  wooden  structure  100  feet  long  by  30 
feet  wide,  with  a Mansard  roof,  which  makes  it  practically 
two  stories  high,  was  erected  for  a joiners’  shop.  A 15- 
horse-power  engine  was  provided  as  motor  for  the  machinery 
with  which  the  shop  is  equipped. 

One  of  the  most  noteworthy  improvements  of  the  year  was 
laying  an  asphalt  walk  5 feet  wide  and  1,760  feet  long  in  front 
of  the  three  principal  hospital  buildings.  At  all  times,  and 
especially  during  the  stormy  weather  of  winter,  tin's  walk  has 
been  highly  appreciated  by  the  large  number  of  persons  hav- 
ing occasion  to  use  it. 

As  an  additional  safeguard  in  case  of  fire  four  iron  ladders 
reaching  from  the  roof  nearly  to  the  ground  have  been  at- 
tached to  the  walls  of  the  main  building,  with  platforms 
accessible  from  windows  on  each  floor,  the  approaches  being 
under  the  control  of  attendants. 

Owing  to  the  constantly  increasing  amount  of  laundry 
work,  more  room  was  needed  for  sorting  tables  and  for  drying 
apparatus.  A small  addition,  14  feet  by  25  feet,  two  stories 
high,  was  therefore  made  to  the  laundry. 

An  upright  tubular  boiler,  which  you  purchased  for  sum- 
mer use  at  the  middle  hospital,  does  satisfactory  service, 
supplying  steam  enough  for  cooking  and  for  hot- water  boilers 
in  that  building,  with  a much  less  amount  of  coal  than  here- 
tofore. 

During  the  year  much  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  grading 
around  the  new  hospital  building,  and  this  portion  of  the 
grounds,  in  spite  of  natural  disadvantages,  already  gives 
promise  of  becoming  as  attractive  as  any. 


404 


THE  FARM, 

That  great  exercise  ground  for  patients,  has  contributed 
largely  to  their  sustenance,  as  shown  by  the  appended  report 
of  products.  Every  year  something  is  done  toward  improv- 
ing the  land  under  cultivation.  The  extension  of  the  main 
sewer  has  permitted  a more  systematic  distribution  of  sew- 
age over  larger  areas,  and  the  result  will  undoubtedly  prove 
more  and  more  profitable.  During  the  past  year  or  two  our 
farmer  has  been  provided  with  facilities  for  boiling  refuse 
bones  from  the  slaughter-house  and  kitchens;  after  boiling, 
these  are  ground  and  used  with  advantage  as  a fertilizing 
agent. 

The  importance  of  the  ice  crop  and  the  frequent  necessity 
of  gathering  it  expeditiously  led  to  the  construction  last  fall 
of  a rectangular  basin  330  feet  long  and  100  feet  wide,  so 
located  that  cakes  of  ice  would  run  on  a slightly  inclined 
plane  directly  to  the  ice  house.  This  artificial  pond  was 
filled  from  our  water  pipes  when  the  reservoirs  were  over- 
flowing, and  the  full  supply  of  ice  (800  tons)  was  housed 
more  quickly  and  economically  than  ever  before. 

FINANCES. 

The  price  of  board  for  all  beneficiaries  has  continued  at 
the  rate  of  $3.50  a week,  and  all  the  expenses  of  the  hospital 
have  been  met  by  the  revenue  derived  from  the  board  of 
patients.  In  the  appendix  may  be  found  the  annual  financial 
statement  and  an  abstract  of  vouchers,  which  gives  in  detail 
an  exhibit  of  expenditures. 

ENTERTAINMENTS 

In  the  amusement  hall  relieve  the  tedious  length  of  many  a 
winter  evening.  They  are  eagerly  anticipated  and  greatly 
enjoyed  by  our  patients.  To  the  good  friends  who  at  much 
personal  inconvenience  generously  contributed  in  this  way  to 
the  pleasure  of  the  unfortunate,  hearty  thanks  are  due.  The 
following  list  gives  an  idea  of  the  variety  and  quality  of  these 
performances : 


405 


READINGS. 

Mrs.  Noble  and  Miss  Daisy  Ives,  .... 

1 evening. 

Mr.  Edward  Fabian, 

1 

Miss  Nettie  Taylor, 

1 

MUSICAL  AND  DRAMATIC  ENTERTAINMENTS. 

Hospital  Troupe,  . . . . 

6 evenings. 

Wesleyan  Students, 

1 

Company  from  Hartford  Retreat,  .... 

1 

LECTURES. 

“ Whale  Fisheries,”  Mr.  Charles  Nortbend,  . 

1 evening. 

“ Reminiscences,”  Mr.  Charles  Northend, 

1 

“ Electricity,”  Mr.  A.  B.  Morrill,  .... 
“ Indian  Manners  and  Customs,”  Capt.  D.  A.  Tib- 

1 

balls, 

1 

“ Switzerland,”  Rev.  C.  C.  Salter, 

1 

“Rome,”  Rev.  C.  C.  Salter, 

1 

“ Trip  in  Europe,”  Mr.  Edward  Douglas, 

MISCELLANEOUS  ENTERTAINMENTS. 

1 

Concert,  Hospital  Orchestra  assisted  by  Mrs.  T.  M. 

Davis, 

1 evening. 

Sociable  with  dancing, 

Cantata,  “ Jephthah,”  by  friends  from  South 

10 

Farms  Methodist  Church,  .... 

1 

Ventriloquism,  Mr.  H.  T.  Bryant, 

1 

At  many  of  the  entertainments  the  hospital  orchestra  has 
rendered  valuable  assistance,  and  in  summer  the  hospital 
band  has  been  encouraged  for  the  sake  of  frequent  open-air 
concerts  on  the  lawn. 

RELIGIOUS  SERVICES 

Are  held  every  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  hospital  chapel,  which 
is  filled  with  an  appreciative  audience.  To  clergymen  of  all 
denominations,  living  in  this  and  neighboring  towns,  we  are 
indebted  for  their  kindness  in  conducting  these  exercises  and 
in  ministering  consolation  at  the  bedside  of  the  sick. 


406 


DONATIONS. 

We  desire  to  acknowledge  with  thanks  the  following  dona- 
tions : 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Monroe,  bound  volumes  of  Illustrated  Christian  Weekly. 
Mr.  C.  E.  Church,  bound  volumes  of  N.  Y.  Tribune  and  several 
books. 

Mr.  E.  W.  N.  Starr,  a copy  of  Holbrook’s  Military  Tactics. 

Mrs.  S.  B.  Davis,  bound  volumes  of  the  Cultivator. 

Mr.  L.  B Hazen,  reports  relating  to  the  Worcester  Lunatic  Hospital. 
Mr  L.  R.  Hazen,  the  Century  Magazine  for  the  year. 

Hon.  Robbins  Battell,  large  oil  painting. 

Clias.  Scribner’s  Sons,  Encyclopaedia  Britannica. 

Mr.  II.  D.  A Ward,  Monthly  Meteorological  Reports,  illustrated 
papers  and  magazines. 


Also,  the  publishers  of  the  following  newspapers  for  gratu- 
itous copies  regularly  received : 


Hartford  Daily  Courant,  . 

“ Evening  Post,  . 

“ Weekly  Times,  . 

The  Religious  Herald,  weekly, 
New  Haven  Weekly  Palladium,  . 
Tolland  County  Journal,  weekly, 

“ “ Leader,  weekly, 

Sheltering  Arms,  monthly, 

The  Herald,  daily, 

The  Sentinel  and  Witness,  weekly, 
The  Constitution,  weekly, 
Bridgeport  Standard,  weekly, 
Weekly  Witness,  weekly, 

Prairie  Home,  weekly, 


Hartford,  Conn. 


New  Haven,  Conn. 
Rockville,  “ 

H (( 

New  York,  N.  Y. 
Middletown,  Conn. 


Bridgeport,  “ 
New  York,  N.  Y. 
Carthage,  Dak. 


Recent  newspapers,  the  illustrated  weeklies  and  monthlies, 
are  seized  with  avidity,  and  we  would  be  glad  to  get  more  of 
them. 


CONCLUSION. 

When  you  called  me  from  the  agreeable  duties  of  previous 
years  to  a post  of  greater  responsibility,  the  cordial  support 
of  the  experienced  officers  with  whom  I had  so  long  been 
associated  was  of  inestimable  value  and  is  gratefully  appre- 
ciated. Dr.  Stanley  was  fully  prepared  to  take  charge  of  the 


407 


male  patients  in  the  main  building  and  no  addition  to  the 
staff  was  required. 

Thankful  acknowledgments  are  also  due  to  all  in  various 
departments  of  labor  who  have  faithfully  served  the  hospital 
and  contributed  their  talents  to  the  advantage  of  the  patients. 

With  the  assistance  of  those  thus  devoted  to  duty,  and 
with  the  blessing  of  the  Heavenly  Father,  it  may  be  confi- 
dently expectly  that  this  grand  charity,  wisely  entrusted  to 
your  charge,  will  continue  to  accomplish  its  beneficent  work. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

JAMES  OLMSTEAD,  M.D., 

/Superintendent, 

Middletown,  Conn.,  June  30, 1886. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  Greneral  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut , January  Session , 1889  : 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  respectfully  present  this  their  twenty-second  report, 
which  covers  the  two  years  from  June  30,  1886,  to  June  30, 
1888. 

By  referring  to  the  superintendent’s  report  and  the  several 
reports  which  accompany  it,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  general 
condition  of  the  institution  is  most  satisfactory,  and  that  the 
State  has  good  cause  to  congratulate  itself  on  the  result  of 
the  liberal  and  humane  policy  it  has  invariably  pursued  for 
the  relief  and  care  of  its  insane.  Owing  to  the  large  increase 
in  the  number  of  patients,  the  expense  of  their  keep  per  cap- 
ita is  less,  therefore  the  trustees  feel  justified  in  reducing 
the  price  of  board  after  the  1st  of  November  next  from  |3.50 
per  week  to  $3.20  per  week. 

Since  the  last  report  to  your  honorable  body  the  following 
additions  and  improvements  have  been  made  without  calling 
on  the  State  for  any  especial  appropriation,  namely: 

An  addition  to  each  side  of  the  main  entrance  of  the  mid- 
dle hospital  for  medical  offices  and  reception  rooms  — a want 
much  felt  heretofore. 

Addition  of  work-room  to  the  annex,  which  has  proved  of 
great  benefit,  affording  good  accommodation  for  the  employ- 
ment (which  is  very  necessary  to  health)  of  the  convict  and 
criminal  patients  therein  confined,  of  which  there  are  now 
sixteen  convicts  and  nine  criminals. 

Erection,  long  had  in  contemplation,  of  a greenhouse  and 
conservatory  on  the  south  side  of  the  main  hospital. 

Erection  of  cottage  east  of  the  annex  for  the  patients  who 


409 


work  out  of  doors,  some  seventy  in  number,  and  the  hired 
farm  laborers,  by  which  we  have  been  able  to  give  up  the 
“ Silver-mine  house,”  leased  for  some  years  past,  which  was 
ill  adapted  to  such  uses  and  inconvenient  from  being  at  a 
distance  from  the  center. 

Erection  of  coal-bunkers  in  connection  with  the  middle  and 
south  hospitals. 

Laying  new  and  larger  water-main  from  the  lower  reservoir 
to  the  hospital,  thus  affording  an  abundant  supply  of  water 
in  any  emergency. 

Laying  asphalt  and  flag-stone  walks. 

Erection  of  an  isolated  brick  building  for  painter’s  supplies, 
thus  decreasing  the  danger  of  fire  arising  from  the  storage 
of  such  material. 

At  the  last  session  of  the  General  Assembly  James  G. 
Gregory,  M.D.,  of  Norwalk  (formerly  one  of  the  board),  was 
appointed  trustee  for  Fairfield  county,  to  date  from  July  1, 
1888. 

The  Governor  appointed  Costello  Lippitt,  Esq.,  of  Norwich, 
to  fill  the  vacancy  for  New  London  county,  caused  by  the  death 
of  the  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Willard. 

Owing  to  the  change  of  law  as  to  the  appointment  of  trus- 
tees (see  Chap.  5,  Sec.  88,  of  the  Public  Acts  of  1887), 
whereby  the  number  of  the  u Local  Trustees”  is  increased 
from  three  to  four,  and  the  appointment  made  by  the  Senate, 
instead  of  by  the  board  of  trustees,  as  heretofore,  L.  M. 
Leach,  Esq.,  of  Durham,  was  appointed  as  the  fourth  “ Local 
Trustee  ” at  the  January  session,  1887. 

J.  W.  Alsop  was  elected  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees, 
to  succeed  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Willard. 

During  this  session  of  the  General  Assembly  there  should 
be  appointed  the  following  trustees : For  Hartford  and  Tol- 
land counties,  whose  terms  expire  July  1,  1889  ; for  Wind- 
ham and  New  London  counties,  whose  terms  expire  July  1, 
1890  ; in  place  of  two  “ Local  Trustees  ” whose  terms  expire 
respectively  December  1,  1888,  and  December  1,  1889. 

A legacy  of  $1,000  has  been  received  from  the  estate  of 


410 


George  D.  Sargent  of  Hartford,  the  income  to  be  applied  to 
the  comfort  of  a patient  named  in  the  will  during  her  lifetime, 
and  after  the  principal  to  revert  in  fee  to  the  hospital. 

We  would  especially  call  attention  and  careful  considera- 
tion to  those  parts  of  the  superintendent’s  report  referring  to 
the  increases  during  the  last  ten  years  in  the  number  of  in- 
sane needing  care,  which  has  exceeded  even  the  liberal  ac- 
commodation provided  for  them  by  the  State,  and  to  the  need 
of  more  land  for  farming  purposes,  the  power  to  purchase 
real  estate,  without  special  act  of  the  legislature,  having  been 
taken  from  the  board  in  a revision  of  the  statutes. 

The  thanks  of  the  board  are  due  to  our  able  superintendent, 
James  Olmstead,  Jr.,  M.D.,  and  to  his  most  capable  staff,  and 
to  all  the  heads  of  departments,  for  the  efficiency  and  heart- 
felt interest  shown  in  their  work. 

Respectfully  submitted, 


PHINEAS  C.  LOUNSBURY, 
H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN, 
LUCIUS  S.  FULLER, 
COSTELLO  LIPPITT, 
CLARK  E.  BARROWS, 
JAMES  E.  ENGLISH, 
HENRY  WOODWARD, 
ROBBINS  BATTELL, 

JAMES  G.  GREGORY,  M.D., 
JOSEPH  W.  ALSOP,  M.D., 
ELISHA  B.  NYE,  M.D., 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 
LEYERETT  M.  LEACH, 


Ridgefield. 
Windsor. 
Tolland. 
Norwich. 
Rastford. 
New  Haven. 
Middletown. 
Norfolk. 
Norwalk. 
Middletown. 

u 

u 

Durham. 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane : 

Gentlemen  — Complying  with  the  by-laws  which  you  have 
established,  it  becomes  my  duty  to  submit  to  you  a report  of 
the  condition  of  the  hospital  during  the  biennial  period  end- 
ing June  30,  1888. 

The  changes  in  the  number  of  patients  under  treatment 


have  been  as  follows  : 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

Present  July  1,  1886, 

523 

623 

1,146 

Admitted, 

375 

395 

770 

Discharged, 

330 

294 

624 

Present  June  30,  1888,  . 

568 

724 

1,292 

Of  these  1,292  patients 

1,179  were  committed  to  the  hospital  by  the  Probate  Courts. 

12  were  committed  by  their  friends  as  private  patients. 

17  were  committed  by  the  Soldiers’  Hospital  Board. 

21  were  committed  by  the  Governor’s  order. 

8 were  committed  by  the  County  Commissioners. 

46  were  committed  by  the  Superior  Court. 

14  were  committed  by  the  Police  Courts. 

The  last  day  of  the  fiscal  year  finds  these  patients  dis- 
tributed in  the  several  buildings  as  follows : 


In  the  Main  House,  .......  508 

In  the  Middle  House,  .......  370 

In  the  South  House,  .......  278 

In  the  Annex,  ........  31 

In  the  Main  Cottage,  .......  42 

In  the  Farm  Cottage,  . . . . . . .19 

In  the  Fallon  Cottage,  ......  20 

In  the  Roberts  Cottage,  ......  23 

In  the  Carter  Cottage,  ......  1 


Total, 


1,292 


412 


And  in  taking  care  of  them  the  resident  officers  are  aided 
by  179  persons,  employed  thus: 

93  in  the  wards  and  sewing-rooms. 

33  in  the  kitchens  and  bakery. 

18  in  the  laundry. 

14  on  the  farm  and  gardens. 

16  mechanics. 

5 miscellaneous  help. 

That  comparatively  so  few  should  suffice  for  the  care  of  so 
many  would  be  surprising  were  it  not  borne  in  mind  that  a 
large  number  of  the  insane  habitually  participate  in  various 
industrial  pursuits  and  thus  lessen  the  aggregate  cost  of  sup- 
port, while  getting  for  themselves  the  benefit  of  occupation. 
In  the  summer  more  (in  the  winter  a little  less)  than  half  of 
the  male  patients  are  employed,  and  at  all  seasons  about  40 
per  cent,  of  the  women.  Nevertheless,  the  question  is  often 
asked,  Why  are  so  many  patients  to  be  seen  absolutely  idle  ? 
In  reply,  take  for  instance  a bright  June  day  when  work 
enough  awaits  all  who  can  be  induced  to  do  anything,  and 
the  record  is  thus  tabulated.  For  the  form  of  the  table 
credit  is  due  to  the  reports  of  the  South  Yorkshire  Asylum 
at  Wadsley,  England. 


NUMBER  OF  PATIENTS  IDLE  AND  REASONS  FOR  IDLENESS. 


Sick,  or  too  feeble,  . 
Aged  and  infirm, 
Too  low  spirited, 
Too  much  excited,  . 
Too  little  mind, 
Able,  but  unwilling, 


Males.  Females.  Total. 

27  50  77 

31  70  101 

14  33  47 

20  53  73 

120  193  313 

38  84  122 


Total  number  of  patients  idle, 


250  483  733 


Another  frequent  question  is,  How  many  of  these  people 
are  likely  to  recover  ? And  in  reply  candor  permits  hopeful 
prophecies  in  comparatively  few  cases.  This  may  be  inferred 
even  from  the  single  fact  that  86  per  cent,  of  the  1,292 
patients  remaining  at  the  end  of  the  year  (table  XXYI) 
have  been  insane  longer  than  twelve  months,  and  have  thus 


413 


passed  the  limit  within  which  (table  XIX)  most  recoveries 
occur.  More  than  half  of  them,  by  the  way,  have  been 
inmates  of  the  hospital  longer  than  five  years.  Furthermore, 
the  other  points  to  be  considered  in  prognosis,  such  as  the 
form  of  insanity,  hereditary  influences,  vicious  habits,  the 
depressing  effects  of  poverty  or  disease,  oftener  darken  than 
brighten  the  outlook.  Nevertheless,  of  the  whole  number 
admitted  since  the  opening  of  the  hospital,  nearly  21  per 
cent,  have  recovered  after  being  under  treatment  usually 
several  months,  exceptionally  several  years,  as  detailed  in 
table  XVIII.  The  majority  of  these  persons  were  brought 
to  the  hospital  within  six  months  after  insanity  developed 
(table  XVII),  and  had  never  been  insane  before.  Thus  of 
the  177  persons  who  recovered  their  reason  during  the  last 
two  years  116  (62  per  cent.)  had  experienced  their  first  at- 
tack of  insanity,  33  the  second,  9 the  third,  4 the  fourth,  5 
the  fifth,  3 the  sixth,  1 the^  seventh,  and  in  16  cases  the  his- 
tory of  previous  attacks  was  unknown. 

Looking  further  at  the  statistical  tables,  it  may  be  observed 
(table  V)  that  of  the  whole  number  admitted,  2,780  are 
recorded  as  natives  of  the  United  States  and  1,755  of  other 
countries.  But  were  it  possible  to  trace  the  parentage  of  all 
these  cases  how  much  fuller  would  be  our  information  as  to 
the  foreign  element  represented  in  the  hospital  population. 
Thus  during  the  last  year  alone  227  natives  of  the  United 
States  were  admitted,  but  the  parents  of  only  178  were  born 
here ; 144  were  of  Irish  parentage,  25  of  German,  20  of 
English,  and  the  small  remainder  of  Swedish,  Scotch,  Italian, 
and  other  nationalities  as  indicated  in  the  table.  The  influ- 
ence of  immigration  in  so  far  as  relates  to  the  importation 
from  abroad  of  persons  already  insane,  which  is  reported  to 
have  considerably  increased  the  insane  population  in  the 
neighboring  States  of  New  York  and  Massachusetts,  has  not 
especially  affected  the  number  of  admissions.  But  immi- 
grants are  occasionally  admitted,  who  after  struggling  un- 
successfully for  perhaps  several  months  to  establish  them- 
selves in  this  strange  land,  become  desperately  homesick, 


414 


discouraged,  and  finally  insane.  Two  such  cases  received 
during  the  period  covered  by  this  report  improved  so  much 
at  the  hospital  that  their  friends  were  at  last  able  to  send 
them  back  to  the  land  of  their  birth  with  good  reason  to 
hope  that  their  cure  would  thus  be  perfected. 

Table  XI  shows  that  in  addition  to  cases  of  undeniable 
insanity,  there  have  been  admitted  to  the  hospital  during  the 
last  two  years  25  inebriates  and  4 sane  persons.  The  word 
inebriety  appears  to  be  undergoing  such  an  extension  of  its 
original  meaning  as  to  be  applied  not  only  to  a morbid  con- 
dition of  which  the  habit  of  alcoholic  intemperance  is  the 
essential  element,  but  also  to  cases  in  which  other  drugs  are 
habitually  used  to  excess.  Under  it,  therefore,  are  grouped 
in  the  table,  along  with  cases  of  the  alcohol  habit,  such  few 
specimens  of  the  opium  and  of  the  cocaine  habit  as  have 
been  brought  to  the  hospital.  All  three  habits  are,  indeed, 
sometimes  combined  in  the  same  individual,  causing  func- 
tional disturbances,  which  (except  for  the  convenient  name 
inebriety)  some  linguist  might  be  tempted  to  label  dipso- 
morphinococainomania.  Granting  that  there  is  a disease 
inebriety,  entitled  to  an  independent  place  in  the  category 
of  diseases,  it  would  seem  to  be  something  quite  distinct 
from  insanity ; and  physicians  connected  with  institutions 
for  the  insane,  whether  regarding  these  habits  as  diseases  or 
vices,  have  repeatedly  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  confine- 
ment of  inebriates  among  the  insane  is  unfortunate  for  both. 
The  inebriates,  as  soon  as  they  rally  from  the  toxic  effects  of 
the  drug  which  enslaves  them,  and  seriously  reflect  upon 
their  situation,  begin  to  chafe  under  the  restrictions  which 
govern  the  insane,  protest  against  association  with  lunatics 
whom  they  perhaps  view  with  supercilious  pity,  are  not 
usually  disposed  to  engage  in  any  useful  occupation  and  are 
often  prone  to  plot  mischief.  They  are  rarely  willing  to  be 
deprived  of  their  liberty  long  enough  to  insure  a cure  of 
their  habit,  being  over-confident  of  their  ability  to  keep  good 
resolutions.  But  so  long  as  they  do  stay  in  the  hospital 
they  fill  space  which  the  insane  need. 


415 


Reviewing  the  records  of  the  last  five  calendar  years 
(1883-7  inclusive)  it  is  ascertained  that  16  persons  have 
been  admitted,  who,  while  in  the  hospital,  manifested  no  evi- 
dence of  insanity,  and  accordingly  in  due  time  were  dis- 
charged as  not  insane.  It  may  fairly  be  presumed  that  they 
have  remained  so,  as  they  have  not  been  returned  to  the  hos- 
pital. Seven  of  them  were  criminals,  who  either  experienced 
brief  attacks  of  insanity  terminated  by  recovery  during  the 
time  spent  in  jail,  or  else  they  successfully  feigned  insanity 
to  escape  the  penalties  of  crime.  The  remaining  nine  were 
committed  by  probate  courts.  One  of  these  was  supposed  to 
be  an  epileptic,  but  during  six  months  spent  at  the  hospital 
no  seizures  or  mental  disturbances  were  observed.  Another 
was  erroneously  believed  to  be  suicidal.  In  three  cases  there 
was  a history  of  family  quarrels,  and  doubtless  the  statements 
of  angry  relatives  deceived  the  physicians  who  certified  to 
insanity.  All  of  these  patients  found  that  the  laws  of  this 
State,  which  make  the  commitment  of  the  insane  to  hospitals 
as  informal  as  possible,  leave  the  return  to  freedom  and 
friends  equally  unimpeded  when  hospital  care  is  no  longer 
requisite.  During  this  same  period  of  five  years  the  total 
number  of  probate  court  commitments  received  at  this  hos- 
pital was  1,507,  and  of  these  only  nine  were  not  insane ! Is 
it  likely  that  in  localities,  where  even  the  most  extreme  pre- 
cautions are  enforced  with  relation  to  the  commitment  of  the 
insane,  fewer  mistakes  occur  ? 

The  number  of  patients  who  died  during  -the  biennial 
period  was  (table  I)  81  in  the  year  1886-7  and  105  in  the 
year  1887-8.  The  ratio  of  deaths  to  the  average  number 
present  in  each  of  the  two  years  respectively  was  (table 
XXVIII)  6.78  and  8.26.  As  compared  with  the  previous 
years  the  former  is  below  and  the  latter  above  the  average 
death  rate.  The  explanation  of  last  year’s  excess  is  to  be 
found  in  the  increased  number  of  old  people  who  end  their 
lives  in  the  hospital.  As  shown  in  table  XXII  nearly  half 
of  those  who  died  last  year  had  reached  and  some  had  passed 
far  beyond  the  age  of  60.  Not  uncommonly,  in  the  aged, 


416 


death  appears  due  solely  to  exhaustion  of  vitality,  and  every- 
body knows  that  as  a general  rule  senile  degeneration  weak- 
ens the  ability  of  the  system  to  resist  any  disease.  After 
old  age,  the  following  were  the  most  prominent  causes  of 
death,  named  in  order  of  frequency:  Apoplexy,  phthisis, 
maniacal  exhaustion,  general  paresis,  diseases  of  the  heart, 
epilepsy,  pneumonia,  and  a few  others,  as  detailed  in  table 
XXIII.  It  is  a rather  remarkable  fact  that  for  nearly  three 
years  it  was  not  necessary  to  record  a single  death  by  suicide. 
Not  that  there  was  a dearth  of  suicidal  cases  among  the 
admissions,  for  during  the  last  two  years  forty-five  patients 
were  received  who  either  shortly  before  or  after  their  en- 
trance into  the  hospital  actually  attempted  self-destruction  ; 
and  several  others  were  so  strongly  suspected  of  suicidal  ten- 
dencies that  they  were  put  under  special  watch.  Notwith- 
standing all  precautions,  however,  last  spring  two  patients 
succeeded  in  thus  terminating  their  careers.  These  painful 
occurrences  were,  of  course,  reported  to  the  proper  authori- 
ties, who  carefully  investigated  them  and  found  that  no 
blame  rested  upon  the  hospital  management. 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

Besides  ordinary  minor  repairs,  which  in  an  establishment 
of  this  size  require  daily  attention,  and  the  more  considerable 
expenditures  of  labor  frequently  necessary  to  keep  all  parts 
of  the  institution  in  a state  of  preservation  and  usefulness, 
the  noteworthy  improvements  have  been  as  follows : 

1st.  A one-story  brick  addition  (16x16  feet)  was  erected 
on  each  side  of  the  tower  at  the  entrance  of  the  middle  house, 
providing  two  much  needed  rooms  — one  a medical  office,  the 
other  a reception  room,  where  patients  can  see  their  friends. 

2d.  An  addition  to  the  annex,  two  stories  high  and  about 
thirty-two  feet  square,  was  strongly  built  of  stone,  with  inte- 
rior walls  of  brick.  The  first  story  was  divided  into  seven 
bedrooms,  opening  into  a central  corridor,  and  the  second 
story  made  a single  apartment,  which  has  been  used  with 
success  as  a work-room.  Here  such  occupations  as  cobbling, 


417 


mending  clothing,  making  mattresses,  and  caning  chairs 
shorten  tedious  hours  of  confinement. 

3d.  A small  isolated  fireproof  storehouse  was  erected  for 
the  painter’s  supplies. 

4th.  Two  coal-bunkers,  each  holding  about  500  tons, 
have  been  constructed  in  connection  with  the  middle  and 
south  boiler-houses. 

5th.  A cast-iron  water-main,  eight  inches  in  diameter,  has 
been  laid  alongside  the  old  six-inch  main  from  the  lower  res- 
ervoir to  the  hospital,  a distance  of  nearly  6,000  feet.  The 
connections  have  been  so  arranged  that  water  may  be  drawn 
from  the  upper  reservoir  as  well  as  from  the  lower  through 
either  main,  thus  insuring,  in  the  event  of  repairs  along  one 
line,  an  uninterrupted  supply  by  the  other;  and  in  case  of 
fire  the  increased  pressure  which  has  been  obtained  will  prove 
extremely  useful. 

6th.  The  asphalt  walks  have  been  continued  so  as  to  con- 
nect the  middle  kitchen  with  the  base  of  supplies  and  the 
joiner  shop  with  other  work  rooms. 

7th.  A greenhouse  (100  x 22  feet)  has  been  built  adjacent 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  main  house  and  in  line  with 
the  south  end  of  the  wing.  The  frame-work  of  the  super- 
structure is  of  iron ; the  heating  apparatus,  ventilating 
machinery,  and  all  internal  arrangements  are  believed  to  be 
sufficiently  complete  for  practical  purposes.  The  experience 
of  even  one  winter  has  plainly  demonstrated  the  value  of 
this  structure  in  the  preservation  and  propagation  of  the 
plants,  which  to  the  number  of  14,275  were  set  out  last 
spring,  adding  much  to  the  appearance  of  the  grounds  and  to 
the  gratification  of  the  patients.  Back  of  the  greenhouse  a 
vegetable  cellar  was  excavated,  above  which,  in  a room 
100x18  feet,  is  a bowling  alley,  a billiard  table,  and  some 
simple  gymnastic  apparatus  for  the  use  of  the  patients,  who 
find  here  a covered  play-ground  when  wintry  or  stormy 
weather  forbids  exercise  out  of  doors. 

8th.  A cottage,  one  story,  and  French  roof,  making  it 
practically  two  stories  high,  has  been  erected  about  midway 
27 


418 


between  the  main  kitchen  and  the  barns,  providing  lodging 
for  the  hired  farm  help  and  for  74  patients,  most  of  whom 
are  in  the  habit  of  working  out  of  doors.  It  is  built  of  brick 
and  is  supplied  with  with  gas,  water,  and  steam-heating 
apparatus.  The  food  is  all  prepared  in  the  main  kitchen. 
The  dining-room,  living  room,  bath-room,  and  water-closets 
are  on  the  first  floor.  Above  is  a large  dormitory  and  two 
small  bedrooms  for  patients.  There  are  no  window  guards, 
but  the  lower  sashes  are  supplied  with  stops  and  the  doors 
with  locks,  in  the  belief,  as  Dr.  Yellowlees  of  the  Glasgow 
Royal  Asylum  expresses  it,  that  “ The  lines  of  restriction 
are  as  wide  as  welfare  permits ; but  such  line  are  needful  and 
afford  invaluable  support  when  judgment  and  self-control  are 
weakened.” 

By  the  construction  of  the  above-mentioned  cottage,  by 
putting  beds  in  attics  and  other  inappropriate  [daces  and  by 
overcrowding  dormitories,  a tolerably  successful  effort  has 
been  made  to  keep  pace  with  the  demand  for  room.  But 
now  the  hospital  is  absolutely  full,  and  again  all  the 
aggravating  annoyances  and  discomforts  incidental  to  delay 
in  admission  of  patients  are  to  be  endured.  In  round  num- 
bers there  are  (table  XXVII)  800  more  insane  persons  in 
the  hospital  now  than  were  present  ten  years  ago  — an 
average  increase  of  80  annually.  If  the  next  decade  does 
not  witness  as  large  a rate  of  increase  as  the  last,  it  certainly 
seems  reasonable  to  expect  that  additional  accommodations 
at  the  rate  of  50  or  70  beds  annually  will  be  needed.  And 
in  this  connection  arises  a question  as  to  the  wisdom  of 
indefinitely  augmenting  this  institution.  Are  not  the  advan- 
tages of  a large  hospital  with  its  separate  buildings  and 
numerous  wards  already  attained  as  far  as  is  practicable 
here?  Hitherto  undoubtedly  much  expense  has  been  saved 
by  supplementing  an  existing  foundation  instead  of  starting  a 
new  plant  elsewhere.  But  further  enlargement  would  involve 
purchasing  more  land,  constructing  another  reservoir,  in- 
creasing the  amount  of  live  stock,  and  making  considerable 
additions  to  the  laundry,  the  bakery,  and  other  parts  of  the 


419 


establishment.  The  economic  argument  thus  loses  much  of 
its  force.  This  is  not,  however,  the  only  point  to  be  consid- 
ered. The  serious  evils  consequent  upon  overgrowth  are  to 
be  guarded  against,  and  the  welfare  of  the  insane  themselves 
is  surely  of  prime  importance.  What  will  most  promote 
this  end,  whether  it  be  additions  here,  or  county  homes  for 
selected  cases,  or  the  family  plan  now  being  tried  with  some 
success  in  Massachusetts,  or  some  other  policy,  merits  careful 
inquiry. 

FINANCES. 

The  amount  of  receipts  and  disbursements  during  each  of 
two  preceding  years  is  exhibited  in  the  financial  statements 
herewith  submitted.  As  in  previous  years,  all  the  expenses 
of  the  institution  (specified  in  the  accompanying  abstracts  of 
vouchers)  have  been  paid  out  of  the  moneys  received  for  the 
support  of  patients,  and  a balance  remains  to  the  hospital, 
the  price  of  board  continuing  at  the  rate  of  $3.50  a week. 
In  a community  of  1,300  irresponsible  invalids  to  be  provided 
with  lodging,  food,  medical  aid,  and  every  necessary  attention, 
it  is  a fortunate  circumstance — if  indeed  it  be  not  essential 
— to  have  a certain  amount  of  cash  in  reserve  for  contin- 
gencies. Not  only  may  the  aggregate  cost  of  support  be 
affected  very  considerably  by  changes  in  the  prices  of  staple 
commodities,  but  special  emergencies,  such  as  fires  or  epi- 
demic diseases,  are  liable  to  occur  and  necessitate  immediate 
and  heavy  expenditures,  as  they  have  in  other  similar  places. 
One  contingency,  viz.,  lack  of  room,  which  could  not  other- 
wise have  been  met  in  the  interval  between  the  sessions  of 
the  legislature,  you  have  happily  been  able  to  combat  during 
the  past  year  or  two  by  supplying  additional  accommodations 
for  patients  as  the  capacity  of  the  hospital  became  exhausted. 

THE  FARM 

during  the  last  fiscal  year  has  yielded  more  than  ever 
before,  and  its  value  as  a means  of  diminishing  the  cost  of 
support  may  readily  be  inferred  from  the  farmer’s  report 
herewith  submitted.  Many  poor  people  might  well  envy  our 


420 


patients  the  luxury  of  receiving  quantities  of  vegetables 
fresh  from  the  farm  daily  during  the  season.  Nevertheless, 
there  is  need  of  larger  crops  than  can  now  be  obtained ; for 
the  number  of  patients  has  multiplied  beyond  expectation, 
while  the  amount  of  land  under  cultivation  has  remained  essen- 
tially the  same.  Admitting  that  a farm  suituable  for  600 
patients  is  not  sufficient  for  twice  that  number,  it  would 
obviously  be  an  advantage-  if  additional  tillable  land  were 
located  near  the  barns  and  within  range  of  irrigation  by 
sewage. 

During  the  winter  months,  when  out-of-door  exercises  are 
limited,  it  has  been  the  aim  to  have  something  for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  intelligent  minority  of  the  patients  in  the  amuse- 
ment hall  on  two  evenings  of  each  week.  In  carrying  out 
this  design  officers  and  employes  have  labored  with  a degree 
of  zeal  deserving  high  praise.  We  have  fortunately  been 
able  to  depend  on  the  hospital  orchestra  for  music,  which  is 
an  essential  feature  at  most  of  these  entertainments.  The 
list  given  below  also  makes  mention  of  a goodly  number  of 
friends  outside  of  the  hospital  who  have  graciously  given 
their  time  and  talents  to  this  benevolent  work. 

EVENING  ENTERTAINMENTS,  1886-8. 

MUSICAL  AND  DRAMATIC. 

By  home  talent,  seven  plays,  one  operatta,  seven  concerts,  at  one*  of 
which  Mrs.  T.  M.  Davis  assisted. 

By  young  people  of  the  Universalist  Society,  Middletown,  two  plays. 

By  Messrs.  Franklin  and  Smith,  two  concerts. 

By  the  Young  People’s  Literary  Society,  Middletown,  one  play. 

By  the  Wesleyan  Glee  Club,  one  concert. 

By  the  Middletown  Musical  Club,  one  concert. 

LECTURES. 

By  Rev.  P.  H.  Whaley,  “ The  Charleston  Earthquake. ” 

By  Mrs.  E.  M.  Ramon,  “ France  and  Her  People.” 

By  Mr.  Ernest  King,  “ The  Imagination.” 

By  Mr.  Ernest  King,  “ John  Bunyan.” 

By  Mr.  Ernest  King,  “ A Journey  to  the  Gold  Regions  of  Australia.” 

By  Mr.  J.  N.  Stickney,  “Egypt  and  the  Egyptians.” 

By  Prof.  J.  C.  Van  Benschoten,  “A  Tour  in  Greece.” 


421 


By  Rev.  A.  W.  Ilazen,  “Switzerland.” 

By  Mr.  A.  B.  Morrill,  “ The  Chemistry  of  a Candle  Flame.” 

By  Prof.  William  North  Rice,  “ A Trip  to  Bermuda.” 

By  Mr  W.  E.  Hermance,  “ From  the  Yellowstone  Park  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  in  a Canoe.” 


READINGS. 

By  Miss  Sarah  E.  Rounds,  Mrs.  W.  F Sherwin,  Miss  Janie  G.  Savage, 
Mr.  S.  T.  Ford,  Miss  Nettie  Taylor,  Miss  Olive  F.  Browe. 

By  Miss  Ida  II  Johnson,  alone,  and  with  vocal  music  by  Miss  L E. 
King. 

By  Mr.  E.  Allen  Noble,  with  vocal  music  by  Miss  L.  E.  King. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Christmas  entertainment, 2 evenings. 

Stereopticon  views,  described  by  Drs.  Noble  and 

Fisher,  3 “ 

Stereopticon  views,  described  by  Mr.  Henry  Marsh,  1 “ 

Parasol  drill  by  a company  of  young  ladies,  under 

the  leadership  of  Col.  Elliott,  . . . . 1 “ 

Dancing  parties,  . . . . . . .25  “ 

Ventriloquism,  by  H.  T.  Bryant,  . . . . 1 “ 

On  summer  evenings  the  band  has  played  acceptably  twice 
a week  in  front  of  the  principal  buildings  alternately,  in 
order  that  the  music  might  reach  the  ears  of  all  the  patients. 

In  addition  to  the  entertainments  for  patients,  a course  of 
lectures  to  attendants  on  medical  topics  connected  with  their 
duties  was  delivered  by  the  assistant  physicians,  who  displayed 
a very  commendable  spirit  in  thus  voluntarily  assuming  the 
task  of  giving  instruction  which  cannot  fail  'to  promote  the 
efficiency  of  the  ward  service. 

RELIGIOUS  SERVICES. 

Most  grateful  acknowledgments  are  due  to  the  clergymen 
of  various  denominations  who  have  conducted  religious  ser- 
vices in  the  chapel  regularly  on  the  Sabbath,  as  in  previous 
years,  and  who  have  cheerfully  responded  to  calls  in  behalf 
of  individual  patients.  It  is  believed  that  no  rational  desire 
for  spiritual  consolation  has  been  disregarded. 


422 


DONATIONS. 

We  are  under  obligations  to  the  friends  of  the  hospital  who 
have  thoughtfully  remembered  our  patients  as  follows : Mr. 
Charles  W.  Church,  19  books ; Mr.  T.  S.  Gold,  Secretary 
State  Board  of  Agriculture,  26  volumes  of  agricultural  reports ; 
Mrs.  E.  B.  Monroe,  bound  volumes  of  the  Christian  Union , 
Illustrated  Christian  Weekly , and  box  of  miscellaneous  read- 
ing matter ; Mrs.  M.  G.  Perry,  box  of  books,  magazines,  and 
papers;  Mr.  H.  D.  A.  Ward,  45  books,  monthly  metereologi- 
cal  reports,  illustrated  papers,  and  magazines ; Mr.  L.  R. 
Ilazen,  current  numbers  of  the  Century  Magazine ; Dr.  J.  E. 
Griswold  and  others  of  Glastonbury,  two  large  packages  of 
magazines  and  newspapers  ; Hon.  H.  Sidney  Hayden  and 
others  of  Windsor, two  boxes  of  magazines;  Dr.  J.  W.  Alsop, 
Mr.  George  H.  Hulbert,  and  Prof.  W.  0.  Atwater,  large  pack- 
ages of  periodicals ; Mr.  A.  R.  Parshley  and  Mr.  L.  B.  Cooley, 
illustrated  papers  and  magazines ; Mrs.  H.  E.  Eddy  and  Miss 
A.  K.  Greenfield,  religious  papers;  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  Mid- 
dletown, Mr.  George  Dutting,  and  Mr.  M.  J.  Sherman,  newspa- 
pers ; Mr.  J.  H.  Bunce,  a wolf-skin  rug ; Miss  Rosella  Lloyd,  an 
invalid’s  chair ; resident  officers  of  the  hospital,  books,  peri- 
odicals, and  pictures ; and  many  unknown  persons,  who  have 
deposited  reading  matter  in  the  “ hospital  box,”  which  Mr. 
Hazen  kindly  permits  to  stand  in  his  store. 

In  behalf  of  the  patients,  who  often  ask  for  papers  printed 
near  their  homes,  it  is  a pleasure  to  thank  the  publishers  of 
the  following  named  newspapers  for  gratuitous  copies  : 


Hartford  Daily  Courant,  . 

. Hartford, 

“ Evening  Post,  . 

n 

“ Weekly  Times,  . 

t i 

The  Religious  Herald  (weekly),  . 

( t 

New  Haven  Weekly  Palladium,  . 

. New  Haven, 

“ “ The  Morning  News, 

< < (< 

The  Tolland  County  Journal  (weekly),  . 

. Rockville, 

The  Herald  (daily), 

. Middletown, 

The  Constitution,  .... 

i 4 

The  Evening  Journal  (daily), 

i € 

The  Stand ard(  weekly),  . 

. Bridgeport, 

The  Sheltering  Arms  (monthly),  . 

. New  York. 

423 


CONCLUSION. 

During  the  biennial  period  Dr.  Edwin  A.  Down,  a recent 
graduate  of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New 
York,  whose  qualifications  for  usefulness  were  known  by 
previous  employment  in  other  capacities,  was  added  to  the 
staff  of  assistant  physicians ; Mrs.  Ida  E.  Kendrick  succeeded 
Mrs.  Waite  as  housekeeper;  Mr.  B.  F.  Gould,  who  for  eight 
years  faithfully  served  as  supervisor,  and  latterly,  with  the 
aid  of  his  wife,  as  storekeeper,  resigned.  The  vacancies  thus 
made  were  filled  by  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Frank  M.  Smith 
as  supervisor  and  Mr.  John  M.  Sawyer  as  storekeeper. 

All  of  the  officers  who  have  favored  me  with  their  aid  have 
greatly  lightened  the  cares  of  management  by  loyal  interest 
in  the  execution  of  your  benevolent  designs  and  by  efficient 
supervision  of  details  in  their  respective  departments.  Hon- 
orable mention  might  also  be  made  of  others,  in  all  grades  of 
the  service,  who  have  steadfastly  persevered  in  well  doing 
under  frequent  trials  and  discouragements,  and  are  entitled 
to  share  in  the  credit  for  what  has  been  accomplished. 

Finally,  gentlemen,  believe  me  deeply  grateful  for  the  sup- 
port which  your  counsels  and  guidance  have  given.  While 
recalling  the  many  proofs  of  your  clemency,  one  misses  the 
genial  face  of  that  long-time  member  of  your  board,  who, 
within  this  biennial  period,  has  passed  to  his  rest.  May  all 
of  us  in  the  hospital  who  knew  and  loved  good  Mr.  Willard 
cultivate  his  abounding  sympathy  with  the  unfortunate,  and 
imitate  his  self-denying  efforts  to  infuse  comfort  and  cheer 
into  the  lives  of  others. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

JAMES  OLMSTEAD,  M.D., 

Superintendent. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  June  30, 1888. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut, January  Session , 1891  : 

The  board  of  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  respectfully  present  this,  their  twenty-third  report, 
covering  the  two  years  from  June  30, 1888,  to  June  30, 1890. 

We  are  thankful  to  be  enabled  to  report  the  condition  of 
the  institution  as  good  in  every  respect,  and  we  believe  that 
the  State  may  justly  regard  with  satisfaction  and  pride  the 
results  of  its  wise  and  liberal  provision  for  its  insane. 

As  was  to  be  expected,  the  increase  in  the  number  of 
patients,  some  eighty-five  in  the  past  two  years,  has  reduced 
somewhat  the  expense  of  “ support”  per  capita,  and  we  be- 
lieve that  we  would  be  justified  in  still  further  reducing  the 
“ price  for  keeping  ” the  pauper  patients  (General  Statutes, 
Sec.  3614,  Chap.  224,  Title  67),  but  by  so  doing  the  State 
alone  would  be  directly  affected,  and  the  towns  from  which 
the  patients  come  derive  no  benefit;  therefore,  we  respect- 
fully suggest  that  the  act  relating  to  the  u Commitment  of 
Insane  Paupers  and  Indigent  Persons”  (Sec.  487,  General 
Statutes,  1888),  be  so  amended  that  the  “ two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  per  week  of  the  expense  of  support”  of  each  pau- 
per patient,  now  paid  by  the  town  chargeable  with  his  “ sup- 
port,” be  made  to  include  “ clothing”  as  well  as  “ support,” 
the  increased  cost  of  which  to  the  hospital  would  be  about 
equal  to  the  reduction  “in  price  for  keeping”  we  should 
otherwise  recommend. 

During  the  last  biennial  period  the  following  much-needed 
improvements  have  been  made : 

A barn  for  farm  horses,  wagons,  etc. 

A new  and  larger  ice-house. 


425 


A cottage  for  employes. 

An  additional  reservoir,  the  necessity  for  which  has  long 
been  most  pressingly  felt,  is  in  process  of  construction,  and 
when  completed  will,  together  with  the  now  existing  ones, 
afford  an  ample  supply  at  all  times  and  for  all  emergencies, 
we  believe. 

The  additional  accommodation  called  for  by  the  special 
act  passed  at  the  last  session  of  the  legislature,  viz .,  “That 
the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  In- 
sane be  and  are  hereby  authorized  and  instructed  to  erect 
and  furnish,  as  soon  as  practicable,  a suitable  building,  on 
land  owned  by  the  State,  at  Middletown,  for  the  further  ac- 
commodation and  care  of  the  insane  poor  of  the  State,  said 
building  to  furnish  accommodations  for  at  least  one  hundred 
and  twenty  persons.  The  board  of  trustees  are  hereby 
authorized  and  empowered  to  expend  from  the  funds  of  said 
hospital  an  amount  necessary  for  this  purpose,”  has  been 
provided  for  by  additions  to  the  wings  of  the  south  hospital 
of  forty-eight  rooms,  and  by  doubling  the  capacity  of  the  main 
cottage,  so-called,  giving  one  hundred  additional  beds  in  that 
building. 

For  details  of  the  above  and  of  the  general  work  of  the  hos- 
pital, and  for  certain  recommendations,  all  of  which  receive 
our  full  endorsement,  we  would  refer  you  to  the  accompany- 
ing able  and  exhaustive  report  of  the  superintendent, — but 
would  in  particular  respectfully  urge  your  careful  and  thought- 
ful attention  to  that  part  in  which  he  treats  of  the  necessity 
for  increasing  accommodations  for  the  insane,  and  clearly 
enforces  the  views  held  and  expressed  by  your  trustees,  i.  e ., 
that  for  the  good  of  the  patients  themselves,  and  as  a matter 
of  economy  in  the  end  to  the  State,  such  accommodations 
should  be  provided  in  some  other  locality. 

Our  thanks  are  due  to  the  superintendent  for  his  untiring 
devotion  to  his  work,  in  which  he  has  been  ably  assisted  by 
his  staff  of  physicians  and  by  all  the  other  officers. 

During  this  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  trustees  for 
New  Haven,  Fairfield,  Litchfield,  and  Middlesex  counties, 


426 


and  two  trustees  from  the  “ vicinity  of  tlie  institution,”  to 
succeed  Benjamin  Douglas  of  Middletown,  and  Leverett  M. 
Leach  of  Durham,  should  be  appointed. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

MORGAN  G.  BULKELEY,  Hartford. 
ROBBINS  BATTELL,  Norfolk. 
HENRY  WOODWARD,  Middletown. 
JAMES  G.  GREGORY,  M.D.,  Norwalk. 
JAMES  GRAHAM,  Orange. 

LUCIUS  S.  FULLER,  Tolland. 
COSTELLO  LIPPITT,  Norwich. 
EDWARD  S.  CLEVELAND,  Hartford. 
GEORGE  H.  NICHOLS,  Thompson. 
BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS,  Middletown. 
LEVERETT  M.  LEACH,  Durham. 
JOSEPH  W.  ALSOP,  M.D.,  Middletown. 
JOHN  N.  CAMP, 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane : 

Gentlemen  — In  reviewing  the  events  in  the  history  of  the 
hospital  during  the  last  two  years,  one’s  first  emotion  must 
be  thankfulness  that  no  great  disaster  has  befallen  the  institu- 
tion. That  the  affairs  of  the  community  composed  of  some 
of  the  most  unreasonable,  excitable,  and  dangerous  people  in 
the  State,  have  moved  on  year  after  year  with  methodical 
regularity  means,  indeed,  a great  deal  of  care  and  labor  and 
watchfulness.  But  not  always  is  the  most  earnest  labor 
crowned  with  even  so  much  of  success.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  various  catastrophes  which  overwhelm  human  undertak- 
ings are  such  every-day  occurrences,  that  often  do  the 
familiar  words  come  to  mind,  “ except  the  Lord  build  the 
house,  they  labor  in  vain  that  build  it.” 

The  changes  in  the  census  of  the  patients  have  been  as 
follows : 


MALES. 

FEMAI.ES. 

TOTAL. 

Present  July  1,  1888, 

568 

724 

1,292 

Admitted,  .... 

390 

364 

754 

Discharged, 

349 

320 

669 

Present  June  30,  1890, 

609 

768 

1,377 

That  nearly  all  of  these  1,877  patients  are  beneficiaries  of 
the  State,  and  that  comparatively  few  of  them  belong  to  the 
criminal  classes,  is  shown  by  the  methods  of  their  commit- 
ment, viz.: 

1,244  committed  by  Probate  Courts  as  paupers  or  indigent  patients. 

13  committed  by  their  friends  as  private  patients. 

29  committed  by  the  Soldiers’  Hospital  board. 

1 committed  by  the  County  Commissioners. 

29  committed  by  the  Governor’s  order. 

46  committed  by  the  Superior  Court. 

15  committed  by  the  Police  Court. 


1,377  Total. 


428 


Comparing  the  distribution  of  the  patients  among  the  sev- 
eral buildings  with  the  number  each  was  designed  to  accom- 


modate,  the  overcrowded 
year  is  apparent : 

condition  at  the  end  of 

Capacity. 

the  fiscal 

Contained 
June  30,  1890. 

The  main  house, 

470 

513 

The  middle  house,  . 

320 

368 

The  south  house,  . 

340 

321 

The  annex, 

30 

31 

The  main  cottage,* 

80 

80 

The  farm  cottage,  . 

20 

20 

The  Fallon  cottage, 

20 

21 

The  Roberts  cottage, 

20 

23 

Total,  . 

. 

1,300 

1,377 

It  is  gratifying  to  note  a lower  rate  of  increase  in  the 
number  of  patients  during  the  last  two  years  than  previously, 
resulting,  first,  from  fewer  admissions,  particularly  of  females, 
and  second,  from  more  discharges  than  during  the  preceding 
biennial  period.  Provided  the  increment  continues  to  be  less 
than  fifty  annually,  the  accommodations  of  the  hospital  will 
be  sufficient  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  next  two  or  three 
years. 

For  information  in  regard  to  the  age,  nativity,  residence, 
and  occupation  of  the  patients  admitted,  the  alleged  cause, 
duration,  and  form  of  their  insanity,  together  with  the  results 
of  treatment,  attention  may  be  directed  to  the  appended  sta- 
tistical tables,  carefully  prepared,  as  usual,  by  Drs.  Noble 
and  Fisher.  One  person  was  admitted  in  each  year  who, 
after  a due  period  of  observation,  presented  no  evidence  of 
insanity,  and  was  accordingly  discharged  as  not  insane.  One 
of  them  had  been  arrested  for  breach  of  peace,  the  other  for 
intoxication,  but  the  alcohol  was  entirely  eliminated  before 
the  patient  reached  the  hospital. 

The  frequently  long  duration  of  insanity,  and,  incidentally, 
the  difference  between  the  number  of  cases  admitted  and  the 
number  of  cases  occurring  in  any  given  time  appears  from 


* Since  the  above  date  the  capacity  of  the  main  cottage  has  been  increased  by  100  beds. 


429 


the  statistics  of  even  a single  year.  For  instance,  in  the  first 
year  of  this  biennium,  385  insane  persons  were  admitted. 
But  only  185  of  them  were  attacked  within  a year  of  their 
admission,  200  having  been  insane  from  one  to  thirty  or  more 
years  previously.  Of  these  185  recent  cases,  50  had  been 
insane  once,  twice,  or  more  often  before,  and  of  the  200 
chronic  cases,  15  had  a history  of  more  than  one  attack. 
Not  these,  but  the  recent  cases  of  first  attacks,  i.  e , about  35 
per  cent,  of  the  admissions,  should  be  compared  with  the 
population  in  any  inquiry  as  to  the  relative  increase  of  insanity. 
It  is  also  from  this  35  per  cent,  of  the  admissions  that  most 
of  the  recoveries  are  derived.  Could  we  trace  in  all  cases  the 
conditions  leading  to  the  development  of  the  malady,  we 
might  perhaps  wonder  that  any  genuine  recoveries  occur. 
But  such  information,  especially  in  regard  to  heredity,  is 
often  not  obtainable.  Thus  in  173  of  the  386  admissions 
under  consideration,  the  cause  is  unknown.  Of  the  remain- 
der, 89  persons  had  hereditary  tendencies  towards  insanity, 
20  had  epilepsy,  6 had  congenital  defects,  16  were  in  a state 
of  senile  decay,  and  others,  including  10  general  paretics, 
were  equally  hopeless. 

Following  the  histories  of  these  386  persons,  82  of  them, 
or  about  21  per  cent,  of  the  admissions,  recovered;  and,  as 
after  the  lapse  of  a year  only  five  have  returned,  it  may  fairly 
be  presumed  that  they  really  recovered.  Of  the  unrecov- 
ered, 50  have  been  discharged  improved,  50  have  been  dis- 
charged unimproved,  35  have  died,  174  (45  per  cent,  of  those 
admitted)  remain  in  the  hospital,  and,  with  a few  exceptions, 
will  probably  continue  insane  as  long  as  they  live. 

And  this  appears  to  be  about  the  general  average  of  incur- 
able cases  admitted.  For  it  appears  from  table  XVII,  that  of 
the  1,111  recoveries  since  the  opening  of  the  hospital,  all 
except  78  had  been  insane  less  than  two  years  when  admitted. 
That  is  to  say,  as  a matter  of  fact,  cases  of  longer  duration 
rarely  recover.  But  of  5,289  admissions,  2,356,  or  44.5  per 
cent.,  had  been  insane  longer  than  two  years  when  admitted, 
and  had,  therefore,  already  passed  the  probability  of  recovery. 


430 


Accordingly  it  is  not  surprising  to  find,  on  examining  the 
patients  in  the  hospital,  comparatively  few  hopeful  cases. 
This  might  be  inferred,  indeed,  from  tables  XXV  and  XXVI, 
which  show  the  advanced  age  of  many  patients  present  at  the 
end  of  the  fiscal  year,  and  the  prolonged  insanity  of  many 
more,  only  88  of  the  1,377  being  recent  cases  ; and,  on  the 
other  hand,  845  of  them  having  been  insane  longer  than  five 
years.  But  to  insure  accuracy  on  this  point,  each  assistant 
physician,  taking  a list  of  the  patients  under  his  daily  obser- 
vation, analyzed  their  histories  with  especial  reference  to 
prognosis,  and  the  need  of  continued  hospital  treatment. 

The  result  is  that  only  96  of  the  total  present  are  found  to 
have  reasonably  good  prospects  of  recovery.  Of  the  remain- 
ing 1,281  who  (except  13  private  patients)  are  likely  to  con- 
tinue life  pensioners  on  the  charity  of  the  State,  865  are 
town  or  State  paupers  and  403  belong  to  the  indigent  class. 
In  regard  to  the  former, especially, the  practical  question  arises, 
Why  should  they  remain  in  the  hospital  after  the  expectation 
of  recovery  has  disappeared  ? In  our  opinion  402,  or  nearly 
half  of  these  chronic  insane  paupers  need  to  remain  here  for 
the  following  reasons : 

202  because  violent  or  dangerous. 

77  because  destructive,  filthy,  or  noisy. 

19  because  of  physical  infirmities. 

104  because  intelligent  enough  to  derive  some  comfort  and  benefit 
from  hospital  influences. 

The  remaining  463  chronic  insane  paupers  are  mostly  quiet, 
demented  persons,  some  of  them  untidy  and  idle,  others  able 
to  do  simple  work  to  which  they  are  habituated,  but  none  of 
them  longer  susceptible  of  benefit  from  any  special  medical 
or  moral  treatment.  They  do,  indeed,  need  to  be  under  the 
care  of  a physician,  who  should  be  the  more  constantly 
watchful  because  most  of  them  are  so  undemonstrative  and 
indifferent  to  the  onset  of  diseases  common  to  every  one,  and 
which  call  forth  expressions  of  pain  from  sane  persons. 
They  also  need  to  be  protected  from  neglect  and  abuse,  which 
they  are  often  unable  to  describe  or  complain  of.  Such  as 


431 


these  are  found  in  the  plain  old  farm  cottages  which  for 
many  years  have  here  been  used  as  lodgings  for  patients,  and 
such  as  these  might  be  kept  in  buildings  durable  and  com- 
fortable but  less  expensive  than  much  of  the  architecture 
which  lias  been  designed  with  special  reference  to  the  treat- 
ment of  acute  and  curable,  or  the  guarding  of  destructive  and 
dangerous  insane. 

When  these  mindless  bodies  are  led  out  for  their  daily  air- 
ing, the  procession,  far  from  being  a cheerful  spectacle  to  an 
intelligent  patient,  evidently  tends  to  foster  depression  of 
spirits.  Their  removal  would  favor  the  successful  treatment 
of  curable  cases,  and  would  enable  the  hospital  for  years 
to  receive  promptly  all  insane  persons  likely  to  be  benefited, 
inasmuch  as  it  appears  that  already  enough  permanently 
insane  paupers  are  collected  here  to  fill  an  asylum  of  moder- 
ate size.  Such  a movement  would  inaugurate  a system  of 
trasfers  which  would  be  in  harmony  with  your  recommenda- 
tion to  the  last  legislature  that  “ the  economic  and  humane 
interests  of  the  State  require  that  additional  accommodations 
for  its  insane  be  provided  in  some  other  locality.” 

In  order  to  throw  some  light  on  the  question  of  permanence 
of  recoveries  from  insanity,  the  subsequent  history  of  the 
persons  recorded  as  cured  between  1880-85  was  sought  by 
circulars  addressed  to  each  one’s  correspondent,  and  the 
inquiry  became  more  and  more  interesting  as  replies  to  the 
circulars  vere  received.  Some  were  especially  gratifying, 
such  as  the  following:  “ My  wife’s  health  has  been  good  since 
she  left  your  hospital.  There  has  been  no  return  of  the 
trouble  you  speak  of.  My  wife  takes  care  of  the  house,  and 
everything  goes  on  as  well,  if  not  better,  than  before  the  long 
sickness  which  landed  her  at  your  hospital,  for  which  I am 
more  than  thankful.” 

The  total  number  of  recoveries  in  the  period  of  five  years 
was  287.  Of  these,  83  returned  no  further  information,  70 
are  living  and  have  continued  sane,  8 continued  sane  till 
death,  30  were  attacked  again  and  treated  elsewhere,  96  were 
attacked  again  and  readmitted. 


432 


Of  those  readmitted,  25  recovered  again,  59  are  still  insane, 
12  continued  insane  till  death. 

While  it  would  be  pleasant  to  dwell  solely  on  the  good 
accomplished,  the  practical  fact  to  be  pondered  with  reference 
to  provision  for  the  insane  appears  to  be  that  of  all  admissions 
during  a period  of  five  years,  little  more  than  twenty  per  cent, 
recovered,  and  of  these  only  78  individuals  are  known  to  have 
continued  sane  during  the  following  five  years  or  till  death. 
This,  in  connection  with  the  fact  that  a quarter  of  these  287 
cases  had  previously  “ recovered  ” once,  twice,  or  more  often, 
discloses  a lamentable  liability  to  relapses,  and  suggests, 
as  the  late  Dr.  John  S.  Butler  has  said,  that  “ there  remains 
to  be  done  a work  greater  than  cure  or  kindly  care  — that  of 
prevention;  a work,  which  in  order  to  be  of  the  highest  suc- 
cess, must  reach  back  to  the  early  life,  the  family,  the  nursery, 
and  the  school.” 

The  ratio  of  deaths  to  the  average  number  of  patients 
under  treatment  was  a fraction  over  7 per  cent.,  as  in  general 
since  the  opening  of  the  hospital.  The  average  duration  of 
insane  life  has  been  nearly  eight  years  The  more  common 
causes  of  death,  named  in  order  of  frequency,  were  phthisis, 
old  age,  diseases  of  the  heart,  exhaustion  from  insanity,  gen- 
eral paVesis,  apoplexy,  epilepsy.  Over  70  deaths  were  due  to 
diseases  of  the  nervous  system,  furnishing,  with  others,  such 
material  for  instructive  pathological  study  that  the  lack  of 
adequate  facilities  for  fine  work  in  that  department  of  science 
is  regretted. 

In  each  of  the  last  two  years,  and  at  an  interval  of  fifteen 
months  from  one  another,  a death  by  suicide  occurred.  Both 
were  cases  of  melancholia,  and  were  apparently  improving  so 
much  that  one  had  been  transferred  to  a convalescent  ward, 
and  the  other  had  twice  been  taken  home  on  a visit,  and  had 
enjoyed  considerable  liberty  with  evident  benefit.  It  is  rather 
remarkable  that  no  other  violent  deaths  occurred,  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  of  those  admitted  during  the  two  years  51  had 
attempted  homicide,  27  had  threatened  homicide,  77  had 
attempted  suicide,  and  20  had  threatened  suicide. 


433 


The  out-of-door  exercise  essential  to  physical  health  and 
mental  improvement  involves  the  risk  of  escapes,  which  may 
be  expected  to  occur  occasionally,  notwithstanding  the  vigi- 
lance of  attendants.  Most  of  those  who  thus  left  without 
leave  were  speedily  brought  back ; others  reached  home 
safely  and  remained  a longer  or  shorter  time  with  friends  on 
trial;  one  lost  his  life  by  a railway  accident;  one  is  supposed 
to  have  returned  to  Ireland ; of  three  only  no  tidings  have 
been  heard,  and  these,  being  vagrants,  probably  drifted  out 
of  the  State.  They  are  not  disposed  to  harm  any  one. 

The  number  of  sight-seers  drawn  hither  by  idle  curiosity 
does  not  appear  to  diminish  as  time  makes  the  institution  fa- 
miliar to  the  public,  and  the  disproportion  between  the  sexes 
furnishes  an  amusing  illustration  of  well-known  feminine 
characteristics.  Thus,  on  ten  successive  visiting  days  373 
adults  were  escorted  through  the  wards,  and  all  of  them  ex- 
cept 70  were  females,  with  whom  were  50  children  and  13 
infants  ! Occasionally  strangers  appropriate  to  themselves 
the  swings  and  arbors,  pick  flowers,  and  peek  into  ward  win- 
dows, necessitating  vigorous  protests  to  protect  the  rights  of 
the  patients  and  suggesting  the  need  of  a constable  to  patrol 
the  grounds.  The  intelligent  interest  of  the  public  and  the 
legitimate  desire  of  friends  of  patients  to  know  about  the  in- 
stitution is,  on  the  other  hand,  most  cordially  welcomed  and 
any  proper  information  cheerfully  given. 

Your  attention  is  invited  to  a table  appended  for  the  first 
time  to  this  report,  which  shows  approximately  the  amount 
of  work  done  in  the  sewing-rooms  and  repair  shop.  The 
latter  is  found  very  useful  in  providing  occupation  for  insane 
convicts,  whose  opportunities  for  exercise  are  necessarily  re- 
stricted, and  these  tabular  summaries  demonstrate  the  lines 
in  which  many  of  the  patients  are  usefully  employed.  Others 
help  on  the  farm  and  lawn,  in  the  kitchens,  laundry,  or  various 
workshops,  or  in  keeping  the  interior  of  the  buildings  clean. 
Some  have  certain  specialties : this  one  is  an  artist ; that  one 
a blacksmith  ; these  fill  the  show-case  in  the  reception-room 
with  fancy  work  ; those  make  their  bedrooms  bazaars.  About 
28 


434 


one-fourth  of  the  whole  number  are  too  demented  to  do  any- 
thing, one-seventh  are  idle  because  of  age  or  physical  infirm- 
ities, and  one-tenth  are  able  but  refuse  to  engage  in  any 
occupation  that  contributes  to  the  general  good.  This  unwil- 
lingness to  take  the  prescription  most  conducive  to  their 
recovery  is  sometimes  encouraged  by  foolish  friends  of  the 
patients,  who  tell  them  they  need  not  work  because  half  their 
board  (forsooth,  less  than  twenty-three  cents  a day  !)  is  paid 
by  themselves.  Some  of  these  idlers,  however,  get  benefit 
from  base-ball,  billiards,  and  bowling. 

The  enlargement  in  various  directions  required  to  keep 
pace  with  the  demands  of  increasing  numbers  has  resulted  in 
the  following  items  of  construction  during  the  last  two  years: 

1.  A frame  barn,  dimensions  50  ft.  x 80  ft.,  situated 
about  300  feet  north  of  the  main  barn,  was  built  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  farm  horses  and  wagons.  It  also  increases 
the  storage  room  for  hay,  provides  a vegetable  cellar  under 
the  wagon  room,  and  a well-ventilated  place  for  pigs  under 
the  stables.  There  is  a hydrant  87  feet  distant,  connected 
by  a six-inch  pipe  with  the  water  main. 

2.  The  old  ice-house  having  become  inadequate,  a new 
one,  with  an  estimated  capacity  of  over  1,200  gross  tons,  was 
built  at  one  corner  of  the  ice-pond  after  the  most  approved 
method.  It  is  divided  into  three  compartments  which  can 
be  united  or  kept  separate  at  pleasure. 

3.  The  building  no  longer  needed  for  ice  was  transformed, 
on  Mr.  Sanderson’s  suggestion,  into  a sort  of  factory  by  substi- 
tuting brick  for  the  decayed  underpinning,  laying  a cement 
floor,  putting  in  a boiler  and  engine,  kettles,  soap  tanks,  bone 
mill,  etc.  Here,  with  the  aid  of  patients’  labor,  soft  soap  is 
made,  bones  are  ground  into  fertilizer,  tallow  and  hides  are 
prepared  for  market,  and  there  is  steam  to  spare  for  use  in 
the  slaughter,  piggery,  and  watering  trough.  Thus  in  several 
directions  the  result  is  profitable. 

4.  A small  double  cottage  of  brick  was  built  for  persons 
employed  whose  continuous  presence  on  the  premises  is  de- 
sirable. 


435 


5.  The  extreme  ends  of  the  wings  of  the  south  house 
were  extended  back  40  feet  and  the  extension  carried  up 
three  stories,  providing  48  single  bedrooms  well  heated  by  in- 
direct radiation,  windows  guarded,  brick  partitions  cemented 
for  the  use  of  noisy  and  destructive  women. 

6.  A duplicate  of  the  building  known  as  the  main  cot- 
tage has  been  built  near  it  and  the  intervening  space  filled 
by  a block  containing  boiler-room,  kitchen,  rooms  of  em- 
ployes. The  completed  structure  thus  consists  of  a center 
and  two  wings,  each  wing  having  dining-room,  living-room, 
bath-room,  and  lavatory  on  the  first  floor,  with  beds  for  90 
patients  on  the  second  floor.  It  is  heated  by  steam  and 
lighted  by  gas.  The  walls  are  brick,  the  roof,  of  the  Mansard 
pattern,  is  slated  and  tinned.  The  ground  space  is  243  feet 
in  length  by  100  feet  in  depth.  There  is  ample  facility  for 
quick  exit  in  case  of  fire,  and  the  building  is  not  high  enough 
to  interfere  with  the  view  of  the  beautiful  eastern  hills  from 
the  windows  of  the  main  house. 

Thus  the  act  of  the  last  Legislature  in  regard  to  additional 
accommodations  for  120  insane  has  been  more  than  complied 
with. 

7.  A hydraulic  sectional  elevator,  which  had  long  been 
needed  for  freight  and  passenger  service  between  the  first 
and  fourth  floors,  was  placed  in  the  center  of  the  main  house. 

8.  An  elevator  shaft  was  constructed  in  the  rear  of  each 
wing  of  the  middle  house,  containing  a clothes  lift  operated 
by  hand  power  in  order  that  heavy  baskets  of  clothing  might 
no  longer  be  tediously  carried  up  and  down  stairs. 

9.  About  2,400  feet  of  North  river  flagstone  three  feet 
and  four  feet  wide,  laid  on  the  walks  to  the  barns  and  cot- 
tages as  required  for  the  performance  of  ordinary  errands, 
enables  the  patients  to  walk  out  of  doors  to  an  extent  hitherto 
impracticable  in  the  wet  season. 

10.  Several  of  the  new  buildings  have  been  protected  by 
lightning  rods  of  solid  copper. 

11.  Watchmen’s  electric  clocks  have  been  placed  in  each 
of  the  three  large  buildings,  with  a station  in  each  ward  and 


436 


boiler-house,  in  order  that  all  persons  on  night  duty  may 
demonstrate  their  presence  at  their  posts  by  signals  regis- 
tered on  dials  in  the  offices. 

12.  The  purchase  of  land  for  the  construction  of  a third 
reservoir,  which  will  be  nearly  completed  before  winter,  with 
a capacity  exceeding  that  of  both  the  others,  will  result  in 
providing  plenty  of  water  for  use  in  the  event  of  fire,  as  well 
as  for  ordinary  purposes  even  in  time  of  drought.  Had  not 
the  rainfall  been  excessive,  serious  inconvenience  would  have 
been  felt  the  last  few  years. 

Other  improvements  which  will  involve  considerable  out- 
lay are  required,  and  with  your  permission  may  be  briefly 
mentioned : 

1.  The  chapel  and  amusement  hall  have  for  some  time 
been  inadequate  to  seat  all  who  might  with  benefit  attend  ex- 
ercises there,  and  a larger  assembly-room  is  so  greatly  needed 
that  the  steps  you  have  taken  to  provide  it  cannot  fail  to  be 
appreciated. 

2.  The  laundry  was  erected  ten  years  ago,  when  the  num- 
ber of  patients  was  less  than  half  the  present  population  of 
the  hospital,  and  the  weekly  “ wash  ” of  more  than  15,000 
pieces  is  with  difficulty  pushed  through  in  such  cramped 
quarters.  A suitable  addition  should  be  made  to  the  build- 
ing and  the  internal  arrangements  so  modified  as  to  facilitate 
labor. 

3.  The  growing  popularity  of  incandescent  electric  lights, 
and  their  special  adaptability  to  institutions  for  the  insane,  is 
so  thoroughly  established  that  the  installation  of  a plant  here 
has  much  to  recommend  it  to  your  favorable  consideration. 

4.  A track  branching  off  from  the  Yalley  railroad  and 
terminating  in  the  rear  of  the  storehouse,  which  would  per- 
mit carloads  of  flour,  beef,  coal,  and  other  freight  to  run  di- 
rectly into  the  back  yard,  would  be  an  immense  advantage  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  more  than  5,000  tons  of  freight  are 
annually  consigned  to  the  hospital  and  are  hauled  up  hill 
from  the  dock  or  from  town  in  all  sorts  of  weather  at  consid- 
erable expense. 


437 


5.  The  storehouse  from  which  provisions  and  supplies 
are  dispensed  to  the  several  departments  is  too  small,  and  the 
stock  now  overflowing  into  adjacent  cellars  would  be  far 
better  housed  in  a freight  depot  alongside  the  terminus  of 
the  proposed  railroad. 

6.  Additional  farm  land,  if  obtainable  at  a reasonable 
price  and  so  located  that  the  sewage  could  be  directed  on  to 
it,  is  desirable  for  reasons  stated  in  the  last  report,  viz. : (1) 
The  increased  number  of  patients  creates  a market  for  more 
produce  than  is  yielded  by  the  acres  now  available  for  culti- 
vation ; (2)  crops  raised  largely  by  the  labor  of  patients  on 
land  fertilized  by  refuse  from  buildings  obviously  cost  less 
than  if  purchased,  and  thus  diminish  the  expense  of  support ; 
(3)  a larger  farm  would  furnish  healthful  occupation  for 
more  patients  than  are  at  present  employed.  It  used  to 
be  advised  that  every  institution  for  the  insane  should  have 
an  acre  of  land  to  each  patient.  To  urge  the  utility  of  a 
third  of  an  acre  per  patient  is,  therefore,  quite  within  the 
bounds  of  moderation. 

The  farmer’s  report  appended  gives  an  itemized  statement 
of  the  amount  and  value  of  farm  products  for  each  year  of 
the  biennial  period,  and  the  amount  of  live  stock  at  the  end 
of  the  period. 

The  greenhouses,  too,  prove  profitable  inasmuch  as  the 
thousands  of  plants  required  to  make  the  flower  beds  on  the 
lawns  attractive  to  the  patients  are  under  glass  raised  from 
cuttings  at  comparatively  little  expense. 

The  finances  of  the  hospital  have  continued  in  a satisfac- 
tory condition,  notwithstanding  the  low  rate  of  board  and  the 
increased  outlay  involved  in  providing  further  accommoda- 
tions for  patients  as  directed  by  the  legislature.  One  of  the 
emergencies, which  render  it  necessary  to  have  funds  in  reserve, 
occurred  last  winter,  when  the  annual  supply  of  ice,  which 
ordinarily  is  produced  on  the  premises  without  expense,  had 
to  be  purchased  at  a cost  of  several  thousand  dollars,  owing 
to  the  mildness  of  the  season. 

Information  in  regard  to  the  receipts  and  disbursements 


438 


will  be  found  in  the  financial  reports  and  abstract  of 
vouchers. 

Evening  entertainments  agreeably  interrupt  the  monotony 
of  the  winter  season  and  contribute  to  the  restoration,  or  at 
any  rate  to  the  happiness  of  the  patients,  whose  thoughts  are 
temporarily  diverted  from  delusions.  Special  thanks  are 
due  to  those  benevolent  friends  of  the  hospital,  who,  at  the 
sacrifice  of  valuable  time,  have  helped  in  this  good  work,  as 
the  subjoined  list  shows  : 

MUSICAL  AND  DRAMATIC  ENTERTAINMENTS. 

By  home  talent,  seven  plays,  five  concerts,  two  operettas,  one  cantatar. 

By  the  Wesleyan  Glee  Club,  one  concert. 

By  Miss  Weeks  and  others,  one  concert. 

By  Mr.  Paine  and  others,  one  concert. 

By  Mrs.  F.  N.  Fagan  and  others,  one  concert. 

By  Messrs.  Franklin  and  Smith,  one  concert. 

LECTURES. 

By  Rev.  E.  F.  Atwood,  “Glimpses  of  Connecticut  History. ” 

By  Rev.  J.  Aspinwall  Hodge,  D.D.,  “A  trip  to  Brazil.  ” 

By  Rev.  Dr.  George  M.  Stone,  “Alaska.” 

By  Mr.  Ernest  King,  “London.” 

By  Mr.  M.  F.  Tyler,  “Egypt.” 

By  Dr.  E.  H.  Jenkins,  “ Fertilization  of  Flowers  by  Insects.” 

By  Mr.  Clarence  Deming,  “Polar  Ice  and  Icebergs.” 

By  Prof.  H.  W.  Farnam,  “Amateur  Photography.” 

READINGS. 

By  Mr.  F.  C.  Croy,  Miss  Nettie  Taylor,  Mrs  R.  L.  Webb,  Miss  Ella 
Ives,  Miss  Sara  Rounds,  Mr.  Howard  L.  Curtis,  Prof.  R.  G.  Hib- 
bard, Miss  Susie  D.  Drew. 

, MISCELLANEOUS. 

Entertainment  by  Mrs.  E.  C.  Noble  and  Miss  Daisy  Ives,  1 evening. 

Entertainment  by  Daniels  Brothers  and  Mr.  C.  W.  IIubbard,l  “ 


Sleight-of-hand  entertainment  by  Mr.  George  II.  Pray,  . 1 

Stereopticon  views,  ........  1 

Ventriloquism,  by  Mr.  II.  T.  Bryant,  ....  1 

Dancing  parties, 27 


The  resident  officers  and  others  employed  here,  whose 
talents  have  given  pleasure  on  the  stage,  have  deserved 


439 


even  more  than  the  hearty  applause  accorded  them ; for 
the  careful  and  tedious  drill  essential  to  a creditable  per- 
formance can  scarcely  be  estimated  by  those  who  have  not 
undertaken  it.  The  musical  organization,  under  instruction 
of  Drs.  Keniston  and  Down,  rendered  efficient  service  on 
numerous  occasions  in  addition  to  the  concerts  noted  above ; 
and  three  times  a week  in  summer  the  playing  of  the  band, 
Orpheus-like,  draws  groups  of  charmed  listeners  to  doors  and 
windows. 

Religious  services  in  the  chapel  on  Sunday  afternoons  have 
been  regularly  attended  by  numbers  of  patients  varying  from 
192  to  240.  This  wide  variation  is  due  partly  to  the  weather 
and  partly  to  individual  preferences.  The  satisfaction  de- 
rived from  these  exercises  is  evinced  by  the  regret  expressed 
if  by  any  chance  a Sunday  passes  without  the  usual  gather- 
ing. Cordial  thanks  may,  therefore,  be  assured  to  those 
clergymen  who  have  thus  led  our  public  worship,  and  whose 
private  ministrations  have  cheered  the  sick. 

DONATIONS. 

Mr.  L.  R.  Hazen,  who  has  continued  to  give  the  hospital  the 
Century  Magazine,  has  also  kindly  permitted  the  “ hospital 
box  ” to  occupy  a corner  of  his  store,  and  many  persons  have 
deposited  their  miscellaneous  reading  matter  for  the  patients. 
Some  of  these  friends  are  unknown,  and  can  therefore  be 
thanked  only  in  a general  way.  Others  who  have  contributed 
illustrated  weeklies  and  monthly  periodicals,  which  are  highly 
appreciated  in  the  wards,  are  Mr.  N.  C.  Stiles,  Mr.  Thomas 
G.  Mather,  Mr.  A.  R.  Parshley,  Dr.  P.  S.  Quackenbos,  Mr. 
F.  C.  Smith,  Mrs.  Frank  Chase,  Mr.  F.  B.  Chaffee,  Miss 
Anna  Hubbard,  Mr.  F.  B.  Weeks,  Mrs.  Andrew  D.  Clark, 
Mr.  H.  D.  A.  Ward,  Mr.  T.  M.  Durfee.  The  Hon.  Thomas 
Sanford  during  his  lifetime  set  a commendable  example  by 
mailing  occasionally  a package  of  Fairfield  County  papers, 
which  were  especially  gratifying  to  patients  coming  from  that 
section.  To  the  Paper  Mission  of  the  Southport  Congrega- 
tional Church  we  are  indebted  for  packages  of  papers  and 


440 


pamphlets,  and  to  Miss  M.  G.  Perry  and  others  for  a box  of 
books  and  papers.  From  the  Adjutant-General  we  received 
a copy  of  “ Record  of  Service  of  Connecticut  Men  in  the  Army 
and  Navy  of  the  United  States  during  the  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion.” A crayon  portrait  of  the  late  Col.  Thayer  was  pre- 
sented by  his  family.  Six  paintings  by  Mr.  Richard  W. 
Hubbard  were  presented  by  the  Hon.  Robbins  Battell.  “ One 
hundred  dollars  for  some  special  need  for  the  comfort  or 
pleasure  of  the  patients  in  the  name  of  Frederick  Marquand,” 
was  expended  in  the  purchase  of  pictures,  which  was  hung 
in  the  wards,  where  their  presence  afforded  lasting  gratifica- 
tion to  successive  occupants.  We  are  under  renewed  obliga- 
tions for  newspapers  which  have  been  received  directly  from 


the  publishers,  as  follows: 

The  Courant,  Daily, Hartford 

The  Times,  Weekly, Hartford 

The  Religious  Herald, Hartford 

The  Palladium,  Weekly, New  Haven 

The  Morning  News,  Daily,  ......  New  Haven 

The  Tolland  County  Journal,  Weekly,  ....  Rockville 

The  Herald,  Daily, Middletown 

The  Constitution,  Weekly, Middletown 

The  Standard,  Weekly, Bridgeport 


A retrospect  over  the  record  of  these  two  years  calls  to 
mind  the  mutual  good  will  existing  between  fellow  workers 
in  the  service  of  the  hospital  and  the  many  sympathies  which 
bind  us  together.  Long  association,  indeed,  sometimes  begets 
attachments  whose  strength  is  scarcely  realized  until  after 
the  tie  is  broken.  So  it  was  in  regard  to  the  late  John  W. 
Thayer,  who  for  more  than  13  years  was  an  officer  here,  and 
whose  leadership  was  universally  acknowledged  in  affairs 
outside  the  strict  line  of  his  duties,  such  as  music,  dramatics, 
and  the  decoration  of  the  grounds.  The  result  of  his  mature 
judgment  on  matters  forming  an  essential  part  of  the  daily 
routine  of  the  institution  will  be  lasting,  and  his  memory  will 
literally  remain  green  as  long  as  the  trees,  which  he  caused 
to  be  planted,  put  forth  their  annual  foliage.  His  successor, 
Mr.  Thomas  M.  Durfee,  fitted  into  the  vacant  place  so  easily 


441 


that  the  wheels  of  our  business  machinery  continued  to  re- 
volve without  a jar. 

My  colleagues  on  the  medical  staff  * and  all  the  officers  are 
entitled  to  praise  for  untiring  devotion  to  the  interests  of 
the  patients  and  to  the  reputation  of  the  hospital.  It  is  a 
pleasure  to  heartily  commend,  also,  other  equally  faithful 
helpers  who  in  their  various  spheres  of  duty  have  done  their 
best. 

To  you,  gentlemen,  whose  critical  oversight  has  been  an 
inspiration,  permit  me  to  express  a deep  sense  of  obligation 
for  the  kindly  consideration  you  have  always  shown. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

JAMES  OLMSTEAD,  M.D., 

Superintendent . 

Middletown,  Conn.,  June  30,  1890. 


* Shortly  before  the  publication  of  these  reports,  Dr.  Down  was 
called  to  the  Hartford  Retreat,  and  Dr.  A.  B.  Coleburn  succeeded  him. 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 


Annual  Statement  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane, 
for  the  Year  ending  June  30,  1889. 

RECEIPTS. 


Amount  of  cash  on  hand  July  1,  1888, $49,733.37 

Revenue  from  Hospital  in  July, 36,899.19 

Interest  on  $40,000  deposited  in  Hartford  (6  mos  ),  . . 529  91 

Interest  on  Hartford  Town  Bond  (Sargent  Fund),  . 22  50 

Revenue  from  Hospital  in  August, 14,146.31 

“ September, 13,005.81 

“ “ October, 29,094.49 

“ November, 16,723  77 

“ December, 11,969.63 

“ January,  1889,  ....  42,856.43 

Interest  on  $40,000  deposited  in  Hartford  (6  mos.),  . . 611.39 

Interest  on  Hartford  Town  Bond  (Sargent  Fund),  . . 22  50 

Revenue  from  Hospital  in  February, 12,140.38 

“ “ March,  10,022  88 

“ “ April, 26,657.95 

“ “ May 17,036.65 

“ “ June, 8,381.87 


$289,855.03 


$56,756.73 


$19,214.05 
18,760.46 
17,487  74 
18,366.49 

23.560.73 

25.343.70 

20.724.70 
18,798.92 
17,496.01 
20,120.28 
13,477.99 
19,747.23 

56.756.73 
$289,855.03 

M.  B.  COPELAND,  Treasurer. 


We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  accounts  of  M.  B.  Cope- 
land, Esq.,  Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  for  the 
fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1889,  and  find  a balance  in  the  hands  of  the 
Treasurer  amounting  to  fifty-six  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty-six  and 
73-100  dollars  ($56,756. 

Frank  L.  Rodgers,  ) Auditors  of 
W.  Cecil  Durand,  f Public  Account. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  Sept.  12,  1889. 


Balance  to  new  account,  . 


DISBURSEMENTS. 


Amount  of  Superintendent’s  orders  paid  in  July,  1888, 

August, 


Amount  of  cash  dep 
Amount  of  cash  dep 


in  Hartford  Banks 


in  Middletown  Nat.  Bank, 


September, 
October, 
November, 
December, 
January,  1889, 
February, 

March, 

April, 

May, 

June, 

$40,000.00 


16,756.73 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 


Annual  Statement  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane , 
for  the  Year  ending  June  30 , 1890. 


RECEIPTS. 


Balance  of  cash  on  hand  July  1,  1889, $56,756.73 

Amount  of  interest  rec’d  to  July  1 on  $40,000  dep.  in  Hartford,  601  14 
Amount  of  revenue  from  Hospital  received  in  July,  . . 41,777.42 

“ “ “ August,  . 16,525.17 

“ “ “ September,  . 10,366.87 

“ “ “ October,  . 32,820.77 

“ “ “ November,  . 12,005.40 

“ “ “ December,  . 11,713  25 

Amount  of  interest  rec’d  to  Dec.  21  on  $40,000  dep.  in  Hartford,  571.69 
Amount  of  revenue  from  Hospital  received  in  January,  1890,  33.472  31 

“ “ “ February,  . 21,907.51 

“ " “ March,  . . 11,542.70 

72  days’  int.  at  3 %,  on  $40,000  dep  in  Middletown  Nat.  Bank,  240.00 
Amount  of  revenue  from  Hospital  received  in  April.  . . 34,107.28 

“ “ “ May,  . . 13,812.80 

“ “ “ June,  . . 11,576.06 


$309,797.10 


Balance  brought  forward, 


$71,086.03 


DISBURSEMENTS. 

Amount  of  Superintendent’s  orders  paid  in  July,  1889, 

“ “ “ “ August, 

“ “ “ “ September, 

“ “ “ “ October, 

“ “ “ “ November, 

“ “ “ “ December, 

“ “ “ “ January,  1890, 

“ “ “ “ February, 

“ “ “ “ March, 

“ “ “ “ April, 

“ “ “ “ May, 

“ “ “ “ June, 

Balance  deposited  in  Middletown  Nat.  Bank, 


$30,192.52 
15,718.27 
15,733.44 
17,514.17 
20,686  96 
24,150.33 
14,599.75 
18,167.51 
23,421  77 
18,462  75 

17.177.02 
22,886  58 

71.086.03 


$309,797.10 

M.  B.  COPELAND,  Treasurer. 


We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  accounts  of  M.  B.  Cope- 
land, Esq.,  Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  for  the 
fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1890,  and  find  a balance  in  the  hands  of  the 
Treasurer  amounting  to  seventy-one  thousand  eighty-six  and  3-100  dol- 
lars ($71,086.^0).' 

Frank  L.  Rodgers,  ) Auditors  of 
W.  Cecil  Durand,  ] Public  Accounts. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  Sept.  9,  1890. 


REPORT  OF  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  January  Session,  1893  : 

The  board  of  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  respectfully  present  this,  their  twenty-fourth  report, 
covering  the  period  from  June  30,  1890,  to  June  30,  1892. 

We  are  gratified  to  be  able  to  say  that  our  frequent  ex- 
aminations of  this  institution  have  invariably  resulted  in 
thoroughly  convincing  us  that  the  property  and  wards  of  the 
State  have  the  most  untiring  and  efficient  oversight,  and 
that  nothing  that  can  possibly  conduce  to  the  comfort  of  the 
patients  or  the  proper  care  of  the  buildings  is  neglected. 

We  believe  an  examination  of  the  tables  showing  the  in- 
crease in  the  number  of  patients  in  the  hospital,  compared 
with  the  accommodations  for  them  as  stated,  will  be  suffi- 
cient evidence  that  the  present  gratifying  condition  of  things 
has  only  been  attained  by  the  exercise  of  the  utmost  skill 
and  wisdom  on  the  part  of  the  superintendent  and  his  asso- 
ciates. Certain  it  is  that  we  have  reached  our  largest  limit 
of  provision  for  the  insane,  except  by  the  erection  of  further 
buildings  for  their  use.  This  we  firmly  believe  would  be  a 
detriment  rather  than  an  advantage  to  our  hospital,  and  we 
hope  that  your  honorable  body  will  provide  such  other  build- 
ings for  the  care  of  incurably  insane  persons  as  will  enable 
this  institution  to  carry  out  its  original  design  as  a remedial 
hospital. 


445 


In  addition  to  the  ordinary  care  of  the  hospital  property 
several  needed  improvements  have  been  made,  among  which 
we  would  especially  mention  the  additional  reservoir,  which 
makes  a water  famine  no  longer  possible,  and  the  erection 
and  furnishing  of  a new,  complete,  and  safe  assembly  room. 
Since  January  1,  1792,  we  have  been  enabled  to  give  all 
pauper  patients  the  use  of  clothing  without  charge,  and  since 
April  1,  1892,  the  price  of  board  has  been  still  further  re- 
duced, the  present  charge  being  three  dollars  per  week,  and 
this  has  been  accomplished  without  reducing  the  quantity  or 
quality  of  either. 

Under  existing  laws  (see  General  Statutes,  Chap.  230, 
Sec.  3388),  this  institution  cannot  receive  inebriates  except 
as  declared  insane,  and  many  are  so  committed  here,  occupy- 
ing room  that  properly  belongs  to  and  is  sorely  needed  for 
those  whose  insanity  arises  from  other  and  more  enduring 
causes.  We  trust  this  will  also  be  remedied,  and  that  suit- 
able provision  will  be  elsewhere  made  for  this  class  of  un- 
fortunates. 

Since  our  last  report  we  have  had  the  misfortune  to  lose, 
by  death,  two  of  our  esteemed  associates,  Mr.  Lucius  S. 
Fuller  and  Dr.  J.  W.  Alsop,  both  of  whom  were  faithful  and 
earnest  in  their  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  hospital. 
We  miss  their  presence  and  counsel,  and  realize  more  fully 
the  importance  of  doing  promptly  every  duty  “ while  it  is 
called  to-day.” 

The  terms  of  the  following  members  of  this  board  expire 
July  1,1893:  Edward  S.  Cleveland,  Hartford  county;  Cos- 
tello Lippit,  New  London  county  ; George  H.  Nichols,  Wind- 
ham county ; Wilbur  B.  Foster,  Tolland  county;  Elijah  K. 
Hubbard  and  John  N.  Camp,  local  trustees. 

The  subjoined  report  of  the  superintendent  gives  full  and 
accurate  information  regarding  every  department  of  the 
hospital,  and  contains  many  suggestions  and  recommenda- 


446 


tions  which  have  our  approval,  and  to  which  we  respectfully 
ask  your  attention. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

MORGAN  G.  BULKELEY,  Hartford. 
EDWARD  S.  CLEVELAND,  Hartford. 
COSTELLO  LIPPITT,  Norwich. 


GEORGE  H.  NICHOLS, 
WILBUR  B.  FOSTER, 
WILLIAM  BISSELL,  M.D., 
HENRY  WOODWARD, 
AUSTIN  E.  MAY,  M.D., 
ANDREW  C.  SMITH, 
ELIJAH  K.  HUBBARD, 
JOHN  N.  CAMP, 

Thompson . 
Rockville . 
Lakeville . 
Middletown. 
Bethel. 

New  Haven. 
Middletown. 

a 

BENJAMIN  DOUGLAS, 

a 

SAMUEL  RUSSELL, 

u 

REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  : 

Gentlemen  — In  obedience  to  the  by-laws,  I have  the 
honor  to  lay  before  you  a report  of  the  condition  of  the  hos- 
pital, together  with  the  usual  statistics  in  regard  to  the  ad- 
missions and  discharges  during  the  two  years  ending  June  30, 
1892.  That  conformity  with  the  alteration  of  the  fiscal  year 
of  the  State  is  in  these  matters  not  essential  is  a fortunate 
circumstance,  for  a change  in  the  date  to  which  the  tables 
are  made  up  would  introduce  into  the  series  a period  unequal 
to  those  preceding,  which  would  plainly  hinder  accurate  com- 
parisons between  the  statistics  of  successive  years. 


The  census  of  the  patients  shows  an  increase  of  129  in  the 
hospital’s  population  during  the  biennial  period,  as  appears 
in  the  following  summary  : 


Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

Present  July  1,  1890, 

609 

768 

1,377 

Admitted, 

424 

364 

788 

Discharged, 

837 

322 

659 

Present  June  80,  1892,  . 

696 

810 

1,506 

On  comparison  with  the  number  present  six  years  pre- 
viously, when  the  completion  of  the  third  large  building  per- 
mitted patients  to  be  received  freely,  it  is  found  that  the  in- 
crease during  the  interval  has  been  at  the  average  rate  of 
sixty  annually.  This  'corresponds  exactly  with  the  estimate, 
which  led  the  legislature  of  1889  to  enact  that  120  beds  be 
provided  here  in  order  to  meet  the  demands  of  two  years. 

The  detention  of  the  patients  present  at  the  end  of  the  bi- 
ennial period  was  authorized  by  their  commitment  through 
the  following  channels : 


448 


1,354  committed  as  pauper  or  indigent  patients  by  Probate  Courts. 

14  committed  as  private  patients. 

31  committed  by  the  Soldiers’  Hospital  Board. 

4 committed  by  the  County  Commissioners. 

28  committed  by  the  Governor’s  order. 

59  committed  by  the  Superior  Court. 

16  committed  by  the  Police  Courts. 

1,506  Total. 

Town  paupers  and  indigent  (not  pauper)  patients  are  com- 
mitted to  this  hospital  by  Probate  Courts  under  section  487, 
General  Statutes,  and  during  the  last  three  years  private  pa- 
tients also  have  been  committed  by  Probate  Courts  in  accord- 
ance with  Public  Acts,  1889,  Chapter  162.  (See  Appendix.) 

While  the  latter  act  or  something  equivalent  was  undoubt- 
edly needed  for  private  commitments,  an  unfortunate  multi- 
plicity in  the  forms  of  probate  proceedings  has  resulted  from 
the  opinion,  which  arose  in  certain  quarters,  that  the  act  was 
of  univeral  application.  On  the  other  hand,  its  application 
is  self-limited  in  section  3 by  the  words  “ except  when  other- 
wise specially  provided  by  law,”  and  in  section  17  by  the 
words  66  nor  shall  they  (foregoing  provisions  of  this  act)  be 
construed  as  repealing  section  487,”  et  cetera.  Therefore,  as 
section  487  continues  in  force  for  the  commitment  of  pauper 
and  indigent  insane,  it  is  difficult  to  understand  by  what  au- 
thority any  probate  judges  can  compel  the  guardians  of  the 
insane  poor  to  suffer  the  additional  expenses  and  delays  of 
committal  by  the  private  process.  This  view  is  supported  by 
the  fact  that  a large  majority  of  the  probate  judges  continue 
to  commit  pauper  and  indigent  cases  under  the  old  law  as 
heretofore. 

The  extremely  small  number  of  private  patients,  tabu- 
lated above,  cannot  fail  to  be  noticed.  Whenever  there  is  not 
room  enough  for  the  accommodation  of  the  poorer  classes 
without  delay,  the  law  (section  3613,  Gen.  Stat.)  is  under- 
stood to  forbid  the  admission  of  private  patients,  and  only  a 
few  old  cases  remain  here.  There  is  occasionally  reason  to 
suspect  that  persons,  able  to  pay  four  dollars  a week  and  de- 
nied the  admission  of  a friend  as  a private,  circumvent  the 


449 


authorities  by  so  misrepresenting  their  financial  standing  as 
to  secure  an  indigent  commitment,  which  abstracts  one  dollar 
and  fifty  cents  a week  from  the  State  treasury  undeservedly 
But  in  their  defense  be  it  said  that  these  people,  who  are 
neither  rich  nor  poor,  are  most  perplexed  when  insanity  en- 
ters their  families.  If  they  could  afford  to  pay  ten  dollars  or 
more  a week  the  doors  of  private  institutions  would  be  opened. 
If  they  were  merely  paupers,  the  best  care  that  the  State  can 
give  any  insane  person  would  be  theirs.  Being  able  to  pay 
four  or  five  dollars  a week  there  is  no  room  for  them  here, 
and  there  is  no  room  for  them  anywhere  else  because  they 
cannot  pay  more. 

As  regards  the  relative  number  of  town  pauper  and  indi- 
gent patients,  a curious  fact  comes  to  light.  Table  X,  ap- 
pended to  this  report,  shows  that  more  indigent  than  pauper 
patients  have  been  admitted  of  late,  while  altogether  from  the 
opening  of  the  hospital  the  paupers  have  been  in  the  ma- 
jority. A marked  change  is  disclosed  by  running  back  only 
six  years : 


ADMITTED. 

1886- 87, 

1887- 88, 

1888- 89, 

1889- 90, 

1890- 91, 

1891- 92, 


PAUPERS.  INDIGENTS. 

186  151 

188  185 

178  191 

155  189 

178  208 

137  199 


The  admission  of  fifty  less  paupers  last  year  than  six  years 
ago  can  scarcely  be  regarded  as  evidence  of  lessening  pauper- 
ism, and  it  appears  that  as  the  number  of  paupers  has  fallen 
off,  the  number  of  indigents  has  correspondingly  increased. 
Now  indigency  is  a condition  of  varying  degrees.  Every 
pauper,  having  nothing,  is  certainly  indigent,  but  many  indi- 
gent persons  have  some  resources,  and  therefore  are  not  pau- 
pers. The  law  which  originated  in  1867  recognizes  this  dis- 
tinction by  providing  that  when  “ an  indigent  person,  not  a 
pauper,”  is  committed  to  the  hospital, 66  half  the  expense  of 
his  support  shall  be  paid  by  the  State,  and  half  by  the  person 
making  the  application  ” for  his  commitment.  The  price  of 
board  then  was  five  dollars  a week,  and  persons  able  to  pay 
29 


450 


two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  a week  and  no  more  for  the  care 
of  an  insane  friend  were  thus  benefited.  No  doubt  the  same 
class  are  equally  able  to  pay  the  same  sum  now.  But  the 
letter  of  the  law  is  such  that  these  indigent  persons  have 
shared  equally  with  the  State  in  reductions  in  the  price  of 
board,  while  the  towns  are  required  to  pay  two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  a week  for  the  board  of  each  town  pauper,  the 
balance  being  paid  by  the  State. 

As  the  price  of  board  is  now  only  three  dollars  a week,  an 
insane  pauper  may  evidently  obtain  all  the  advantages  of  the 
State  hospital  at  less  expense  to  his  town  than  the  cost  of 
keeping  him  in  an  almshouse,  provided  he  can  be  committed 
as  if  he  were  an  indigent  patient — not  a pauper.  There  is 
reason  to  believe  that  certain  selectmen  have  found  ways  of 
doing  this,  and  that  the  State  is  in  consequence  paying  more 
than  its  legitimate  share  towards  the  support  of  town  paupers 
because  disguised  as  indigents.  If  this  practice  continues, 
the  transfer  of  even  the  most  mildly  insane  paupers  from 
almshouses  is  likely  to  be  limited  only  by  the  capacity  of  the 
hospital. 

For  months  the  hospital,  being  absolutely  full,  has  been  un- 
able to  receive  patients  except  as  vacancies  have  been  occa- 
sioned by  removals.  Whenever  an  application  is  received  for 
a patient’s  admission,  it  is  recorded  on  the  male  or  female 
list,  and  applicants  are  notified  in  regular  turn  as  rapidly 
as  the  occurrence  of  vacancies  permits.  The  overcrowding 
of  the  institution  is  seen  by  comparing  the  capacity  of  the 
buildings  in  which  patients  are  kept  with  the  number  each 
contains,  as  in  the  following  table  : 


CAPACITY. 

PRESENT 

JUNE  30,  1692. 

Main  House, 

470 

511 

Middle  House, 

320 

368 

South  House, 

340 

339 

Annex, 

30 

31 

Main  Cottage, 

190 

193 

Farm  Cottage, 

20 

20 

Fallon  Cottage,  . 

20 

21 

Roberts  Cottage, 

20 

23 

Total,  . 


. 1,410 


1,506 


451 


In  the  three  last-named  cottages,  which  are  ordinary  farm 
houses,  an  allowance  of  twenty  bedseacli  may  seem  excessive. 
But  after  an  experience  of  many  years,  it  is  safe  to  say  that 
no  patients  in  your  care  are  more  contented  than  those  privi- 
leged to  enjoy  the  home-like  freedom  of  the  cottages.  And, 
although  stoves  and  oil  lamps  may  involve  fire  risks,  there  is 
little  danger  of  fatal  casualties,  because  these  two-story  build- 
ings are  quickly  emptied.  The  attics  and  mansards  made  of 
inflammable  material  four  stories  above  ground  may  well 
cause  much  greater  anxiety,  inasmuch  as  the  partially  de- 
mented patients,  compelled  by  the  pressure  from  room  to 
lodgeThere,  cannot  be  moved  rapidly. 

This  table  also  answers  in  part  the  frequent  question  as  to 
the  extent  to  which  the  system  of  detached  buildings  prevails 
here.  One  observes  that  patients  are  not  all  massed  under  a 
single  roof,  but  are  divided  among  eight  separate  buildings. 
These  divisions  presuppose  classifications  based  on  the  mental 
and  physical  condition  of  the  patients,  and  as  the  larger  build- 
ings have  distinct  wards,  still  further  subdivisions  result.  The 
groups  of  patients  associated  together  vary  between  wide  ex- 
tremes — here  sixteen  excitable  women,  there  ninety-five  quiet, 
industrious  men ; here  rows  of  secure  bedrooms,  each  for  a 
solitary  patient,  there  seventy  insane  men  peaceably  sharing 
a common  dormitory  ; in  the  main  building  a score  of  dining- 
rooms that  the  various  squads  of  recent  cases  may  not  annoy 
one  another ; in  buildings  of  later  date  large  central  refecto- 
ries in  which  more  than  a hundred  patients  congregate  at 
meal  times. 

In  the  appended  tables  much  information  will  be  found. 
For  instance,  table  IV  tells  the  ages  when  attacks  of  insanity 
are  most  common,  and  table  V shows  that  less  than  half  of 
all  patients  admitted  were  born  in  Connecticut,  that  one- 
quarter  of  them  came  from  Ireland,  and  half  of  the  remain- 
ing quarter  from  other  foreign  countries.  In  regard  to  their 
residence,  table  VI  shows  that  after  New  Haven  and  Hartford 
counties,  Fairfield  county  has  sent  many  more  patients  to  the 
hospital  than  the  others.  In  July,  1892,  over  two  hundred 


452 


patients  were  present  whose  homes  were  in  that  county. 
This  fact  is  of  obvious  significance  in  connection  with  fur- 
ther accommodations  for  the  insane  poor,  which  your  board 
has  repeatedly  advised  the  legislature  to  provide  elsewhere. 

In  the  same  connection,  it  may  be  worth  noting  that  alto- 
gether 276  cases  of  epileptic  insanity  have  been  admitted, 
and  at  the  time  of  writing  this  report  there  are  90  epileptics 
in  the  hospital.  As  every  one  knows,  there  are  many  more 
outside  of  the  hospital  whose  mental  faculties  are  very  little 
affected,  but  who  are  kept  from  school,  from  church,  and 
other  public  gatherings,  because  of  the  commotion  occasioned 
by  a convulsion.  This,  too,  hinders  them  from  getting  em- 
ployment except  under  especial  care  and  oversight  to  protect 
them  from  accidents.  Under  such  observation,  however,  they 
may  enjoy  their  freedom,  and  be  to  a greater  or  less  degree 
self-supporting.  In  the  endeavor  to  meet  the  peculiar  re- 
quirements of  epileptics,  the  idea  of  collecting  them  in  colo- 
nies has  been  practically  developed  in  Europe.  The  parent 
colony  was  created  about  a quarter  of  a century  ago  at  Biele- 
feld, in  Germany,  and  its  success  has  been  such  that  now  in 
more  than  sixty  houses  scattered  about  on  a farm,  over  a 
thousand  epileptics  find  a home,  where  their  own  labor  con- 
tributes to  their  support.  Besides  farm  work  and  house  work, 
under  intelligent  supervision,  various  occupations  are  fol- 
lowed, as  in  any  other  community ; for  young  epileptics  there 
is  a school  where  the  common  branches  are  taught.  Dr. 
Frederick  Peterson  of  New  York,  having  brought  this  system 
into  notice  in  a series  of  papers  which  commend  themselves 
to  the  medical  profession  and  to  all  who  are  interested  in  the 
care  of  the  defective  classes,  the  States  of  Ohio  and  California 
laid  the  foundation  for  such  a community  a year  or  two  ago, 
and  since  then  the  legislature  of  New  York  has  appointed  a 
commission  to  select  a site  and  prepare  plans  for  a similar 
institution.  If  Connecticut  were  to  follow  this  example, 
about  a hundred  beds  here  would  be  vacated,  or  in  other 
words  the  admissions  of  nearly  two  years  would  be  provided 
for.  Such  a village  would  obviously  derive  advantages  if 


453 


located  conveniently  near  an  industrial  and  educational 
center,  and  the  vicinity  of  New  Haven  is  especially  suitable, 
because  the  faculty  of  the  medical  department  of  Yale 
university  would  undoubtedly  be  willing  to  serve  on  the  visit- 
ing  medical  staff,  inasmuch  as  the  object  lessons  in  nervous 
phenomena  presented  by  even  a small  colony  of  epileptics 
would  be  valuable  to  the  medical  classes.  Tables  XI  and 
XII  indicate  that  instructive  examples  of  other  diseases  of 
the  nervous  system  might  also  be  occasionally  transferred 
there  for  study.  So  many  of  the  graduates  of  that  school 
enter  into  practice  in  Connecticut  that  an  arrangement  con- 
tributing to  their  fund  of  knowledge  would  largely  redound 
to  the  benefit  of  the  public. 

The  four  persons  recorded  in  table  XI  as  not  insane  re- 
mained under  observation  long  enough  to  allay  apprehension 
in  regard  to  their  sanity,  and  then  returned  home.  One  of 
them,  by  the  way,  had  been  an  epileptic  for  years,  during 
which  domestic  duties  had  been  performed  and  children 
reared.  While  in  hospital  several  seizures  were  observed, 
but  no  evidence  of  insanity. 

As  proving  the  wisdom  of  providing  such  accommodations 
for  the  insane  that  acute  cases  can  always  be  received 
promptly,  table  XVII  is  interesting,  for  it  demonstrates  that 
of  the  number  who  had  been  insane  less  than  a month  when 
admitted,  over  50  per  cent,  recovered,  and  that  the  percent- 
age of  recoveries  steadily  diminishes  as  the  duration  of  the 
disease  increases.  Table  XIX  does  indeed  encourage  the 
hope  of  recovery  in  protracted  cases  by  enumerating  the  few 
who  have  recovered  after  being  insane  five  or  more  years. 
But,  nevertheless,  comes  the  deduction  that  the  average 
duration  of  insanity  in  1,200  cases  recovered  was  about  one 
year. 

Among  the  causes  of  death  (table  XXIII)  may  be  noticed 
a marked  increase  in  the  number  of  deaths  from  diseases  of 
the  respiratory  organs,  following  in  the  wake  of  the  epi- 
demics of  influenza.  In  the  same  table  are  recorded  two 

9 

deaths  by  suicide  and  one  by  violence.  The  violence  in  this 


454 


instance  was  fracture  of  the  skull  by  a piece  of  iron  pipe  in 
the  hands  of  another  patient,  who  had  uniformly  been  peace- 
ful and  disposed  to  help  rather  than  to  injure  others.  His 
delusions  were  of  a religious  character,  and  in  this  homicide 
he  claimed  to  have  been  commanded  by  the  Deity.  This 
and  the  deaths  by  suicide  were  of  course  brought  to  the 
notice  of  the  coroner,  and  fully  investigated  in  accordance 
with  the  law. 

The  176  female  patients  admitted  last  year  were  subjected 
to  studious  inquiry  as  to  the  state  of  the  pelvic  organs  by  the 
resident  female  physician.  In  about  one-tliird  of  the  cases 
physical  examination  was  unavoidably  incomplete  for  various 
reasons,  such  as  extreme  debility  or  mental  excitement  or 
unwillingness  of  the  patient.  In  one-half  of  the  total  num- 
ber admitted  pathological  conditions  were  observed,  and  in 
fifty- three  of  these  persons  local  treatment  appeared  to  be 
unquestionably  indicated.  Although  the  majority  consented 
readily  enough  to  examination,  only  six  solicited  it.  Several, 
who  recovered  their  reason,  may  have  owed  mental  restora- 
tion partly  to  the  measures  which,  by  allaying  a source  of 
irritation,  contributed  to  the  comfort  and  physical  well-being 
of  the  patient.  There  were  also  similar  invalids  who  had 
been  admitted  in  previous  years  to  whom  local  treatment 
equally  needed  was  supplied. 

While  this  bit  of  experience  did  not  tend  to  support  the 
idea,  sometimes  suggested,  that  insanity  in  women  is  largely 
due  to  uterine  disease,  it  strengthened  the  opinion  that  ab- 
normal conditions  of  the  sexual  organs,  if  not  searched  for, 
may  fail  to  receive  requisite  attention,  and  that  such  atten- 
tion is  best  given  by  a physician  of  the  same  sex  as  the 
patient. 

The  fact  that  persons  directed  to  bring  a patient  to  the 
hospital  have  been  known  to  abandon  their  charge  to  the 
casual  hackman  at  the  railroad  station,  calls  for  more  than 
passing  mention.  The  law  lays  upon  courts  of  probate  the 
duty  of  appointing  an  escort  for  each  patient  committed. 
Thus  in  the  committal  of  an  indigent  person,  the  court 


455 


“ shall  order  him  to  be  taken  by  the  person  making  the 
application,  or  such  other  person  as  it  may  direct,  to  the  hos- 
pital.” (Gen.  Stat.,  Sec.  487.)  Disobedience  of  such  an 
order  on  the  part  of  the  guard  is  not  only  an  act  of  dis- 
respect to  the  court,  it  is  an  act  of  disrespect  to  the  invalid, 
who  is  temporarily  thrust  outside  of  the  protection  provided 
by  law  for  him,  and  passed  along  from  one  man  to  another 
not  selected  or  even  known  by  the  court.  That  one  of  these 
patients  was  a girl  of  19  years,  acutely  insane,  obviously 
aggravates  the  offense  and  demonstrates  the  importance  of  a 
law,  such  as  exists  in  some  States,  requiring  that  every 
insane  woman  be  accompanied  by  another  woman  when 
going  to  or  from  an  institution.  The  law  in  the  State  of 
New  York  is  so  explicit  on  this  matter  that  no  apology  is 
needed  for  introducing  it  here. 

State  of  New  York.  Laws  of  1890 , Chapter  If). 

Section  1.  In  every  order,  commitment,  or  direction  made  by 
any  court,  judge,  or  other  officer,  for  the  confinement  of  an  insane 
or  feeble-minded  woman  in  any  hospital,  public  institution,  or 
other  place,  not  located  at  the  same  place  where  such  insane  or 
feeble-minded  person  may  be  at  the  time  such  order,  commitment, 
or  direction  is  made,  such  court,  judge,  or  other  officer  shall  also 
direct  therein  that  such  insane  or  feeble-minded  woman  shall  have 
as  an  attendant  at  least  one  suitable  adult  woman  while  in  custody 
pursuant  to  such  order,  commitment,  or  direction,  and  while  going 
to  such  hospital,  public  institution,  or  other  place  ; and  no  officer 
or  other  person  shall  keep  in  his  custody,  or  take  to  any  hospital, 
public  institution,  or  other  place  for  the  custody  or,  confinement  of 
an  insane  or  feeble-minded  person  any  insane  or  feeble-minded 
woman  unless  accompanied  by  such  an  attendant. 

Sec.  2.  Whenever  any  insane  or  feeble-minded  woman  con- 
fined in  any  institution  of  this  State,  under  and  pursuant  to  a com- 
mitment or  order  of  any  court,  judge,  or  other  officers,  is  to  be 
transferred  from  one  institution  to  another  institution,  or  from  any 
hospital  or  other  public  institution  to  a point  outside  of  the  city, 
village,  or  town  where  said  hospital  or  public  institution  is  located, 
the  board  of  managers  of  the  institution  where  said  insane  or 
feeble-minded  woman  is  confined  shall  cause  said  insane  or  feeble- 


456 


minded  woman,  when  so  removed  and  transported,  to  be  accom- 
panied by  one  or  more  females  in  addition  to  the  officer  having  her 
in  charge. 

Sec  3.  The  expenses  of  procuring  female  assistants  required 
for  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  be  a charge  upon 
the  city  or  county  from  which  said  insane  or  feeble-minded- woman 
was  committed. 

Sec.  4.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

Female  patients  require  special  care  not  only  before  reach- 
ing the  hospital  and  while  here,  but  also  afterwards.  In 
England  the  u After-Care  ” association  has  for  twelve  years 
been  engaged  in  the  benevolent  work  of  helping  female  con- 
valescents of  the  working  classes  to  obtain  a fresh  start  in 
life  by  securing  them  employment  where  healthful  influences 
tend  to  prevent  relapses,  and  its  published  reports  give 
detailed  evidence  of  good  accomplished.  In  our  country, 
too,  there  is  a natural  hesitation  to  take  into  domestic  ser- 
vice a recent  graduate  from  an  insane  hospital.  Women 
recovering  from  insanity  sometimes  shrink  from  the  antici- 
pated prejudices  and  prefer  to  postpone  discharge  longer 
than  their  health  really  requires.  Recently  this  hospital  has 
acquired  a few  hundred  dollars  as  the  nucleus  of  a fund,  to 
which  additional  contributions  will  be  gratefully  accepted, 
for  the  encouragement  of  convalescents,  either  by  slight 
rewards  for  labor  — a sugar-coating  to  the  occupation  which 
promotes  recovery  — or  by  furnishing  them  with  clothing  or 
small  sums  of  money  when  they  leave  this  resting  place.  It 
devolves  on  the  medical  staff  to  advise  the  superintendent  of 
patients  near  recovery,  who  may  need  to  be  helped  by  the 
fund.  Some  who  have  been  thus  temporarily  aided  are  now 
self-supporting. 

As  in  previous  years,  additional  construction  here  and 
there  has  been  called  for  by  the  growth  of  the  institution. 

(1)  With  more  people  to  be  fed  the  old  slaughter-house 
had  become  inadequate,  while  the  stable  room  in  which  fat 
cattle  were  transient  guests  was  needed  by  other  stock.  So 
a new  slaughter-house  was  built,  covering  34  x60  feet  and 


457 


containing  sixteen  stalls,  close  to  the  dissecting  room.  Be- 
neath are  kept  some  hogs  and  aloft  is  hay.  No  fire  is  kindled 
in  the  building,  for  it  is  located  so  near  the  soap  factory  that 
steam  is  easily  conveyed  for  heating  water. 

(2)  An  enlargement  of  the  meat-house  was  also  required 
in  order  to  provide  an  additional  cooling  room. 

(3)  Ever  since  the  number  of  patients  in  the  middle 
house  exceeded  its  capacity,  the  difficulty  of  seating  them  all 
in  the  two  central  dining-rooms  has  been  apparent,  and  an 
extension  in  the  rear,  adding  six  hundred  square  feet  to  each 
of  these  rooms,  diminished  discomforts  and  the  danger  of 
collisions  very  perceptibly. 

(4)  Lack  of  space  in  the  wash-room  of  the  laundry, 
referred  to  in  the  last  report,  was  relieved  by  on  addition  of 
20x64  feet  carried  up  the  full  height  of  the  building.  By 
this  means  it  was  possible  to  have  the  sewing-room  adjoin 
the  ironing  and  sorting-room,  which  has  been  found  to 
lighten  labor. 

(5)  In  the  last  biennial  report  the  need  of  a larger 
assembly  room  was  mentioned.  The  amusement  hall  was 
not  only  too  small,  but  being  in  an  attic,  approached  by  nar- 
row stairways,  there  certainly  would  have  been  loss  of  life  if 
a fire  had  occurred  during  an  entertainment.  The  new  room, 
which,  after  considering  various  plans,  you  caused  to  be 
erected  above  the  low  kitchen  building  sixty  feet  behind  the 
main  center,  has  during  its  first  season  justified  your  de- 
cision. It  covers  an  area  of  60  x 90  feet,  and  the  brick  walls 
were  carried  up  far  enough  to  allow  of  a gallery  in  which  a 
new  organ  has  been  placed.  The  audience  room  is  on  a 
level  with  the  office  story  of  the  main  building,  with  which  it 
is  connected  by  enclosed  iron  bridges  six  feet  wide  — one  for 
each  sex.  There  is  also  a stairway  of  ample  width  to  the 
floor  beneath  and  thence  out  of  doors.  There  are  cloak 
rooms  under  the  gallery,  to  which  patients  may  retire  if 
taken  suddenly  ill  during  a performance.  The  interior  dec- 
orations, although  simple,  are  generally  admired,  and  reflect 
credit  upon  Mr.  David  R.  Brown,  the  architect.  The  stage 


458 


is  spacious  and  its  various  arrangements  have  proved  to  be 
practically  convenient.  The  location  simplified  connection 
with  steam,  water,  and  gas  supply.  It  has  seats  for  620 
persons. 

(6)  In  the  same  report  reference  was  made  to  the  pur- 
chase of  land  required  for  another  reservoir.  This  has  been 
completed  and  connected  with  the  eight-inch  water  main  by 
1,500  feet  of  pipe  of  the  same  diameter.  The  capacity  of  the 
reservoir  is  estimated  at  25,000,000  gallons,  and  when  full 
the  water  level  is  160  feet  above  the  first  floor  of  the  main 
hospital  building.  The  sources  of  its  supply  are  entirely 
distinct  from  the  streams  which  run  into  the  other  two  reser- 
voirs, and  the  water  is  equally  free  from  liability  to  pollution. 
With  such  storage  capacity  and  with  two  mains  for  convey- 
ance of  water  from  the  reservoirs  to  the  buildings,  insuf- 
ficiency from  any  cause  seems  to  be  extremely  improbable. 
Gratifying,  indeed,  is  freedom  from  the  discomforts  which 
have  been  repeatedly  experienced  in  times  of  drought  and 
from  the  apprehension  of  lack  of  water  in  case  of  fire. 

(7)  Extending  from  the  ground  to  the  roof,  an  iron  bal- 
cony has  been  attached  to  the  rear  of  certain  wards  for 
females  patients  — some  of  them  hopeful  cases  — in  order 
that  those  unable  to  walk  out  may  have  some  sunlight  in  the 
open  air.  There  is,  too,  an  opportunity  for  exercise,  as  the 
balcony  surface  on  each  story  is  45  x 12  feet.  In  winter  the 
exposed  sides  are  covered  with  glass,  and  thus  benefit  is 
received  the  year  round. 

(8)  Finally,  at  the  close  of  the  period  covered  by  this 
report,  an  addition  to  the  store  (the  need  of  which  was  also 
stated  two  years  ago)  is  in  process  of  construction.  There 
are  two  stories  above  the  cellar,  and  when  completed  a space 
of  20  x 40  feet  on  each  floor  will  be  gained  for  storage  of 
miscellaneous  supplies. 

The  various  repairs  continually  demanding  attention,  afford 
opportunities  for  the  introduction  of  improvements.  For  ex- 
ample, metallic  ceilings  have  in  several  instances  been  sub- 
stituted for  plaster  which  had  fallen ; the  somewhat  antiquated 


459 


method  of  steam  heating  in  the  oldest  group  of  buildings 
has  been  revised,  and  the  heating  is  now  accomplished  by 
steam  at  much  lower  pressure  than  formerly ; the  local 
telephone  circuit  connecting  the  several  buildings  with  one 
another  has  been  renovated  and  so  extended  as  to  put  the 
main  office  into  communication  with  the  wards  in  the  same 
building. 

Among  improvements  in  contemplation  may  be  mentioned 
the  extension  of  the  system  of  sewage  irrigation  to  portions 
of  the  farm  not  hitherto  reached,  experience  justifying  the 
confident  expectation  of  favorable  results. 

Also  in  contemplation  is  a grove  on  the  hospital  farm  at  a 
suitable  distance,  where  walking  parties  of  patients,  without 
annoying  anyone,  may  find  a capacious  and  retired  place  to 
rest  before  returning  to  the  hospital  — a place  vastly  better 
than  alongside  the  public  highways.  Near  the  men’s  arbor 
a clump  of  trees,  planted  by  the  late  Colonel  Thayer,  already 
begin  to  spread  grateful  shade,  and  at  the  north  end  of  the 
grounds  a year  or  two  ago  a similar  cluster  was  started  with 
the  hope  that  years  hence  the  female  patients  may  there  get 
healthful  diversion  with  swings,  croquet  and  the  like,  when 
extreme  heat  forbids  longer  walks. 

The  advantages  which  an  institution  for  the  insane  de- 
rives from  its  farm  are  indicated  in  part  by  a statement  of 
the  amount  of  farm  products.  This  has  been  prepared  with 
usual  care  by  the  farmer,  and  is  herewith  submitted.  These 
products  represent  one  of  the  ways  in  which  the  labor  of 
patients  contributes  to  their  maintenance,  and  it  is  also  to  be 
remembered  that  the  patients  who  labor  gain  from  their  oc- 
cupation physical  vigor  and  healthier  mental  action.  Even 
if  they  do  not  fully  recover,  they  are  much  less  unreasonable, 
and  get  much  more  enjoyment  out  of  life  then  when  idle. 
Another  advantage  presented  by  the  farm,  especially  by  that 
portion  upon  which  sewage  can  run,  consists  in  its  being  a 
field  for  the  harmless  disposal  of  offensive  excreta  and  their 
transformation  into  food. 

As  in  farm  work  so  in  other  occupations,  patients  are 


460 


helped  by  helping.  Thus  some  of  the  insane  criminals, 
whose  range  of  activity  is  necessarily  circumscribed,  find  in 
the  workshop  connected  with  their  quarters  a manifest  relief 
from  the  tedium  of  confinement.  To  show  the  variety  of 
their  tasks  the  record  of  what  has  been  done  in  the  shop  is 
appended.  Likewise  a summary  of  the  work  in  the  sewing 
rooms,  under  the  matron’s  direction,  testifies  to  the  industry 
of  some  of  the  female  patients.  Others  busy  themselves  with 
needlework  in  the  wards,  or  assist  in  various  domestic  duties. 
With  so  many  willing  to  contribute  the  labor  of  their  hands 
toward  the  common  good,  it  is  no  wonder  that  you  have  been 
able  to  reduce  the  price  of  board  from  $5.00  a week  at  first 
to  $3.00  a week  at  last. 

The  abstract  of  vouchers  and  the  financial  statement  for 
each  of  the  two  years  separately^  are  to  be  found  in  connec- 
tion with  the  treasurer’s  report. 

The  increasing  population  of  the  hospital  increases  the 
necessity  of  emphasizing  the  long-standing  regulation  of  your 
board  that  visitors  shall  not  be  admitted  on  Sunday,  and  of 
impressing  the  distinction  between  this  day  and  others  on 
the  minds  of  the  patients  in  various  ways.  Chief  among 
these  are,  of  course,  the  public  exercises  of  God’s  worship 
in  the  chapel,  which  are  attended  by  as  many  as  are  willing 
and  able  to  be  present.  The  clergymen  of  every  denomina- 
tion, who  have  brought  us  the  comforts  of  religion,  are  enti- 
tled to  the  gratitude  of  all. 

From  November  to  May,  frequent  evening  entertainments 
in  the  assembly-room  are  enjoyed  by  the  intelligent  minority 
of  our  patients,  and  the  labor  of  preparing  them  is  not  with- 
out pleasure  to  those  engaged  in  the  work,  although 
often  a heavy  tax  on  time  that  might  well  be  devoted  to 
more  serious  studies.  The  character  and  variety  of  these 
performances  are  exhibited  in  the  following  list  of  entertain- 
ments, 1890-92 : 


461 


MUSICAL  AND  DRAMATIC. 

Entertainment  by  Misses  Drew,  Ayer,  and  Ludlow. 

Entertainment  by  Messrs  Grumbine,  Thayer,  and  Arnold 

By  the  Wesleyan  Glee  Club,  one  concert. 

By  the  Hospital  Company,  plays  five  evenings,  operetta  one  evening, 
concerts  three  evenings,  varieties  two  evenings. 

LECTURES. 

By  Mr  J.  E.  Littlefield,  “Abraham  Lincoln.” 

By  Mrs.  Elizabeth  B.  Custer,  “Reminiscences  of  Frontier  Life.” 

By  Miss  Susan  E.  Littlefield,  “Deaf  Mutism  and  Visible  Speech.” 

By  Mr.  Ernest  King,  “ Victor  Hugo.” 

By  Mr.  Ernest  King,  “ The  Neighborhood  of  London.” 

By  Mr.  F.  S.  Goodrich,  “Palestine,”  illustrated  by  stereopticon. 

By  Dr.  H.  C.  Hovey,  “Caves,”  illustrated  by  stereopticon. 

Mr.  W.  R.  Morgan,  “ The  Passion  Play,”  illustrated  by  stereopticon. 

By  resident  officers,  eight  lectures,  illustrated  by  stereopticon. 

READINGS. 

By  Miss  Florence  Russell,  two  evenings;  by  Miss  Lizzie  Gleason  ; 
by  Miss  Helen  Chaffee,  assisted  by  Mrs.  E.  C.  Noble  ; by  Miss 
Lizzie  D.  Lyman,  assisted  by  Miss  Katherine  Clark. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Entertainment  by  Messrs.  Wright  and  Burns,  assisted  by  local  talent. 

Crayon  sketches  by  Mr.  George  E.  Little. 

Ventriloquism  by  Mr.  H.  T.  Bryant. 

Dancing  parties,  twenty -five  evenings. 

Those  named  in  the  above  list  who,  although  not  con- 
nected with  the  hospital,  generously  sacrificed  their  conven- 
ience to  contribute  to  the  happiness  of  our  sequestered  friends, 
may  be  assured  that  their  efforts  were  thankfully  appreciated. 

The  musical  members  of  our  fraternity  deserve  commen- 
dation for  having  kept  up  the  organization  of  the  band,  the 
orchestra,  and  the  choir,  each  of  which  contributes  its  share 
to  the  pleasure  of  the  patients. 

The  gentlemen  of  the  medical  staff  in  the  winter  of  1890- 
91  prepared  and  delivered  a course  of  twenty-five  lectures, 
supplemented  by  recitations,  on  practical  topics  connected 
with  the  care  of  the  sick.  About  half  of  the  attendants 
embraced  this  opportunity  for  self-improvement.  But,  alas ! 
only  one-third  of  the  pupils  were  in  the  service  a year  later. 


462 


Donations  of  reading  matter  left  in  the  hospital  box  at  Mr. 
Ilazen’s  bookstore  will  be  called  for  and  their  receipt  ac- 
knowledged if  the  names  of  the  donors  are  known.  Thanks 
are  due  to  Mr.  L.  R.  Hazen  for  the  Century  Magazine  regu- 
larly received  every  month,  and  for  a quantity  of  German 
illustrated  papers.  We  are  also  indebted  for  illustrated  pa- 
pers and  magazines,  always  prized  by  the  patients,  which 
were  given  by  Rev.  0.  A.  Piddock,  Mr.  N.  C.  Stiles,  Mrs.  An- 
drew D.  Clark,  Mr.  John  M.  Douglas,  Prof.  W.  0.  Atwater, 
Dr.  Joseph  W.  Alsop,  Mr.  H.  D.  A.  Ward,  Dr.  0.  S.  Wat- 
rous,  Mrs.  Sarah  F.  Whittlesey,  Dr.  F.  S.  Quackenbos,  Mr. 
W.  H.  Chapman,  Mr.  Ira  L.  Gardiner,  Mr.  D.  S.  Moseley. 
Miss  M.  G.  Perry  sent  a box  of  books  and  papers,  Mrs.  B.  W. 
Tompkins  a barrel  of  periodicals,  Miss  Susan  Stephens  a 
copy  of  “ Shepp’s  Photographs  of  the  World.”  Mr.  M.  B. 
Copeland  contributed  forty  books,  a valuable  lot  of  instru- 
mental and  vocal  music,  and  a quantity  of  stereopticon  views, 
Mr.  F.  B.  Weeks  a dozen  books,  Mr.  William  H.  Burrows 
four  volumes  of  Scribner's  and  thirteen  volumes  of  the  Cen- 
tury, the  Middletown  Y.  M.  C.  A.  miscellaneous  reading 
matter,  Mr.  Reuben  Beach  a night-blooming  cereus,  Mr. 
James  H.  Kelsey  a double  white  clematis.  A portrait  of  the 
Rev.  C.  T.  Woodruff  was  presented  by  the  Hon.  Robbins  Bat- 
tell,  one  of  Gov.  James  E.  English  by  the  Hon.  E.  S.  Cleve- 
land, and  one  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Alsop  by  Messrs.  Samuel  Russell 
and  E.  K.  Hubbard. 

The  patients,  who  especially  enjoy  reading  the  news  from 
their  homes,  are  under  obligations  to  the  publishers  of  the 
following  newspapers  for  gratuitous  copies  : 


Tlie  Courant,  daily, 

The  Times,  weekly, 

Religious  Herald,  weekly,  - 
The  Palladium,  weekly, 

The  Morning  News,  daily,  - 

The  Tolland  County  Journal,  weekly, 

The  Herald,  daily, 

The  Standard,  weekly. 


Hartford,  Conn. 


New  Haven,  Conn. 

I 4 I € 

Rockville,  Conn. 
Middletown,  Conn. 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 


463 


This  chapter  of  the  hospital’s  history  would  be  incomplete 
without  a cordial  recognition  of  the  valuable  services  of  my 
comrades,  including  all  those  who  have  overcome  difficulties, 
dangers,  and  various  trials  in  the  faithful  performance  of 
duty.  While  mourning  the  loss  of  some  efficient  helpers, 
there  is  cause  for  thankfulness  in  the  reflection  that  vacant 
places  have  been  filled  with  good  material  and  that  the 
working  force  has  been  strengthened  by  meritorious  addi- 
tions, as  required  by  the  additional  number  for  whom  we 
work.  \ 

Lastly,  gentlemen,  believe  me  deeply  sensible  of  my  indebt- 
edness to  each  member  of  your  board,  with  whom  it  has  been 
my  privilege  to  take  counsel  during  these  years,  for  the  un- 
varying kindness  which  has  made  service  a pleasure. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

JAMES  OLMSTEAD,  M.D., 
Superintendent . 

Middletown,  Conn.,  June  30,  1892. 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 


Annual  Statement  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane, 
for  the  Year  ending  June  80,  1891. 

RECEIPTS. 

Balance  of  account  as  rendered  July  1,  1890, 

Amount  of  revenue  in  July,  ..... 

Interest  on  bank  deposit  from  March, 

Amount  of  revenue  in  August,  .... 

“ “ September,  .... 

“ “ October,  .... 

“ “ November,  .... 

“ “ December,  .... 

Amount  of  interest  received  on  Sargent  Fund  ($1,000), 

Six  months’  interest  on  bank  deposit, 

Amount  of  revenue  in  January,  1891, 

Rebate  on  Distiller  Cattle  Feed  Co., 

Amount  of  revenue  in  February,  .... 

“ “ March,  .... 

“ “ April,  .... 

“ “ May,  .... 

“ “ June,  .... 

Six  months’  interest  on  bank  deposit, 

Amount  of  interest  on  Sargent  Fund, 

$825,029.27 

DISBURSEMENTS. 


Amount  of  Superintendent’s  orders  paid  in  July,  1890,  . $28,847.20 

“ “ “ “ August,  . . 28,919.04 

“ “ “ “ September,  . 19,794.75 

“ “ “ “ October,  . . 22,095.72 

“ “ “ “ November,  . 20,540  83 

“ “ “ “ December,  . . 23.155.16 

“ January,  1891,  . 16,791.80 

“ “ “ “ February,  . . 16,996.73 

“ “ “ “ March,  . . 18,353.87 

“ April,  . . 18,028.02 

“ “ “ “ May,  . . 18,230.18 

k “ “ “ June  25  313  82 

Balance  of  cash  on  hand  June  30,  1891,  ....  68,472.15 


$325,029.27 

M.  B.  COPELAND,  Treasurer. 


35.447.94 
683.35 

13,338.10 
13,314.51 
35,576.22 
14,441.56 
10,800.12 
30.20 
836.75 
39,467  20 
4.18 
14,820.55 
12,204.82 
34,805.81 
13.639.24 

13.587.95 
924.74 

20.00 


We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  accounts  of  M.  B.  Cope- 
land, Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  for  the  fiscal 
year  ending  June  30,  1891,  compared  the  vouchers  therewith,  and  found 
the  same  correct,  and  that  there  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer 
the  sum  of  sixty-eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  seventy-two  dollars 
and  fifteen  cents  ($68,472.15). 

George  F.  Lincoln,  ) Auditors  of 
D.  Ward  Northrop,  f Public  Accounts. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  Sept.  18,  1891. 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 


Annual  Statement  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane , 
for  the  Year  ending  June  30 , 1892. 


RECEIPTS. 


Balance  of  cash  on  hand  July  1,  1891 

Amount  of  revenue  from  Hospital  received  in  July, 

“ “ “ “ August, 

“ “ “ “ September, 

“ “ “ “ October, 

“ “ “ “ November, 

“ “ “ “ December, 

Six  months’  interest  on  balance  in  Middletown  National  Bank, 
Amount  of  revenue  from  Hospital  received  in  January,  1892, 
Six  months’  interest  on  Sargent  Fund  ($1,000), 

Amount  of  revenue  from  Hospital  received  in  February, 

“ “ “ “ March,  . 

“ “ “ “ April, 

“ “ “ “ May, 

Six  months’  interest  on  Sargent  Fund  ($1,000), 

Amount  of  revenue  from  Hospital  received  in  June, 

Six  months’  interest  on  balance  in  Middletown  National  Bank, 


$68,472.15 
37,890.89 
9,749.49 
19,651.49 
33,110.73 
21,392  97 
13,210.26 
979.29 
40,810.81 
20.00 
14,085.37 
13,348.75 
31,569.55 
19,868.93 
20.00 
10,739.78 
1,337.02 


$336,297.48 


DISBURSEMENTS. 

Amount  of  Superintendent’s  orders  paid  in  July,  1891, 

“ “ “ “ August, 

“ “ “ “ September, 

“ “ “ “ October, 

“ “ “ “ November, 

“ “ “ “ December, 

“ “ “ “ January,  1892, 

“ “ “ “ February, 

“ “ “ “ March, 

“ “ “ “ April, 

“ “ “ “ May, 

“ “ “ June, 

Balance  deposited  in  Middletown  National  Bank, 


$22,537.93 
24,335.60 
23,875.38 
19,523.53 
17,493.00 
16,742.74 
18,807  92 
18,229.94 
16,179.57 
16,545.05 
18,883.70 
63,078.43 
60,064.68 


$336,297.48 

M.  B.  COPELAND,  Treasurer. 


We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  accounts  of  M.  B.  Cope- 
land, Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  for  the  fiscal 
year  ending  June  30,  1892,  compared  the  vouchers  therewith,  and  found 
the  same  correct,  and  that  there  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer 
the  sum  of  sixty  thousand,  sixty-four  dollars  and  sixty -eight  cents  ($60,- 
064.68),  and  also  the  further  sum  of  forty -four  thousand,  two  hundred 
dollars  ($44,200.00),  as  a special  appropriation  account. 

D.  Ward  Northrup,  ) Auditors  of 
Benjamin  P.  Mead,  ) Public  Accounts . 

Middletown,  Conn.,  Dec.  16,  1892. 

30 


REPORT  OF  THE  TRUSTEES. 


To  the  Honorable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut: 

The  trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane 
respectfully  submit  their  twenty-tiftli  report,  together  with 
the  reports  of  the  superintendent  and  treasurer,  covering  the 
period  from  July  1,  1892,  to  June  30,  1894,  inclusive. 

In  presenting  this  report  the  trustees  deem  it  a matter  for 
congratulation  that  they  have  never  had  occasion,  in  conse- 
quence of  serious  errors  or  complaints,  to  make  to  your 
honorable  body,  or  to  the  public,  an  apology,  explanation,  or 
defence  of  the  management  of  the  institution.  It  has  ever  been 
open  to  the  inspection  of  all  properly  authorized  persons,  and 
all  having  special  reasons  for  inquiry  have  received  particu- 
lar attention.  Careful  oversight  has  been  exercised  by  the 
trustees,  and  in  their  unannounced  visits  they  have  received 
the  cordial  co-operation  of  the  officers,  who  have  always 
appeared  as  though  conscious  that  they  were  doing  their 
duty,  having  nothing  to  conceal  or  to  dread  from  the  most 
searching  examination.  The  hospital  still  maintains  its  high 
character  ; whatever  improvements  study  or  experience  have 
developed  have  been  adopted,  and  its  officers  have  not  been 
behind  others  in  devising  means  for  the  better  care  and  im- 
provement of  the  unfortunate  class  over  whom  they  have 
oversight. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  urge  that  skillful  medical  treatment, 
proper  food,  and  care  as  to  regularity  of  habits,  are  not  all 
that  should  be  expected  of  a hospital.  Great  and,  in  many 
cases,  equal  benefit  may  be  derived  from  judicious  employ- 
ment, varied  amusements,  and  pleasant  surroundings,  such  as 
well-arranged  grounds,  ornamented  with  trees,  shrubs,  and 


467 


flowers.  Influences  derived  from  these  sources  powerfully 
tend  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  insane,  to  correct  the  mor- 
bid action  of  their  faculties  and  give  a healthy  tone  to  the 
activities  of  their  bodily  and  mental  powers.  One  result  in 
this  institution  has  been  the  lessening  of  restraint  till  only  a 
very  few  inmates,  and  for  very  special  reasons,  are  subjected 
to  it. 

The  number  of  patients  present  at  the  end  of  the  period 
was  1,580,  more  than  a hundred  in  excess  of  the  number  for 
whose  accommodation  provision  has  been  made.  Applicants 
for  the  admission  of  patients  are  obliged  to  wait  several  weeks 
for  vacancies.  Under  these  circumstances  it  is  especially  re- 
gretted by  the  trustees  that  valuable  space  needed  by  innocent 
persons  should  under  the  mandate  of  the  law  be  occupied  by 
convicts.  The  hope,  expressed  in  a previous  report,  is  still 
entertained  that  suitable  quarters  for  insane  convicts  may  be 
constructed  at  the  State  Prison,  and  that  Section  3617, 
General  Statutes,  directing  their  transfer  to  this  hospital, 
may  be  repealed. 

Since,  notwithstanding  the  advice  of  the  trustees,  it  was 
decided  to  further  enlarge  this  institution,  the  State  is  to  be 
congratulated  on  acquiring  possession  of  land  well  adapted 
for  the  location  of  buildings.  The  report  of  the  building 
committee,  presented  herewith,  contains  interesting  intelli- 
gence of  the  progress  of  the  work,  wdiose  completion  will  at 
least  partially  relieve  almshouses  of  insane  inmates. 

Twenty-five  years  having  passed  since  the  hospital  was 
opened,  it  has  seemed  fitting  that  some  memoranda  of  its 
history  should  be  collated  and  published  as  an  appendix  to 
these  reports  for  the  information  of  your  honorable  body  ; 
this  has  accordingly  been  done. 

It  is  gratifying  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that,  favored  by 
low  prices  of  various  necessaries  of  life,  a further  reduction 
has  been  possible  in  the  price  of  taking  care  of  the  insane 
poor,  which,  since  April  1,  1893,  has  been  at  the  rate  of  only 
$2.80  per  week. 

The  trustees  have  had  occasion  to  mourn  the  loss  by  death 
of  two  of  their  number — the  Hon.  Benjamin  Douglas,  who 


468 


was  a member  of  the  board  almost  from  the  outset,  and,  while 
his  health  permitted,  was  second  to  none  in  devotion  to  the 
welfare  of  the  insane  and  to  whatever  concerned  the  interests 
of  the  hospital ; Mr.  John  N.  Camp,  whose  active  mind  and 
unusual  qualifications  in  practical  business  affairs  made  him 
a valuable  member  of  the  finance  committee. 

In  the  places  of  these  members  Mr.  Horace  F.  Boardman 
and  Mr.  Frank  B.  Weeks  were  appointed. 

The  official  terms  of  the  following  named  trustees  will 
expire  July  1,  1895  : Henry  Woodward,  Middlesex  county; 

William  Bissell,  Litchfield  county;  Austin  E.  May,  Fairfield 
county ; Andrew  C.  Smith,  New  Haven  county ; Samuel 
Russell  and  Horace  F.  Boardman,  “from  the  vicinity  of  the 
institution.” 

Respectfully  submitted, 

LUZON  B.  MORRIS, 

HENRY  WOODWARD, 
WILLIAM  BISSELL,  M.D., 
AUSTIN  E.  MAY,  M.D., 
ANDREW  C.  SMITH, 

WM.  D.  MORGAN,  M.D., 
COSTELLO  LIPPITT, 
GEORGE  H.  NICHOLS, 
WILBUR  B.  FOSTER, 
SAMUEL  RUSSELL, 
HORACE  F.  BOARDMAN, 
ELIJAH  K.  HUBBARD, 
FRANK  B.  WEEKS. 


REPORT  OF  BUILDING  COMMITTEE. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut: 

The  Legislature  of  1893  having  decided  to  provide  addi- 
tional accommodations  for  the  insane,  the  following  resolution 
was  passed : 


SENATE  JOINT  RESOLUTION  NO.  351. 

APPROPRIATION  FOR  THE  CONNECTICUT  HOSPITAL  FOR  THE  INSANE. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly:  Section  1.  That  a building  committee  of 

five  members,  three  of  whom  shall  be  elected  by  the  trustees  of  the  Con- 
necticut Hospital  for  the  Insane,  and  two  of  whom  shall  be  elected  by  the 
Senate,  be  and  are  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  cause  the  erection  in 
the  town  of  Middletown,  of  a suitable  building  sufficient  for  the  accom- 
modation of  two  hundred  and  fifty  insane  persons  of  the  class  known  as 
incurable  insane. 

Sec.  2.  Said  committee  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  expend 
for  said  purpose  such  a sum  of  the  moneys  now  held  by  said  trustees  of 
said  hospital,  not  to  exceed  seventy  thousand  dollars,  as  shall  be  necessary. 

Sec.  3.  A further  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof 
as  shall  be  necessary,  is  hereby  appropriated  from  the  State  treasury,  to 
furnish  and  complete  said  building. 

Approved,  June  30,  1893. 

In  compliance  with  this  act,  the  Senate  having  elected  the 
Hon.  Seth  J.  Hall  of  Meriden  and  Dr.  Matthew  T.  Newton 
of  Suffield,  the  board  of  trustees  appointed  Mr.  A.  C.  Smith 
of  New  Haven  and  Messrs.  Samuel  Russell  and  Henry 
Woodward  of  Middletown,  to  complete  the  committee. 

This  committee  organized  by  appointing  Henry  Wood- 
ward chairman  and  treasurer,  and  Samuel  Russell  secretary. 

There  being  no  suitable  site  for  locating  the  new  buildings 
on  the  land  owned  by  the  State,  a very  desirable  piece  ot 
land  contiguous  to  the  hospital  property,  conveniently  located 


470 


and  admirably  adapted  for  the  purpose,  was  purchased,  upon 
which  the  buildings  have  been  placed. 

The  buildings  known  as  the  south  hospital  having  proved 
very  satisfactory  to  all  the  officers  of  the  institution,  your 
committee  requested  several  architects  in  this  State  to  make 
plans  and  specifications  for  a building  upon  the  same  general 
plan  of  the  one  named,  using  every  means  to  make  the 
structure  as  nearly  fire-proof  as  possible. 

Several  plans  were  presented  and  considered,  but  the  esti- 
mated cost  of  all  but  the  one  furnished  by  Messrs.  Curtis  & 
Johnson  of  Hartford,  was  found  to  exceed  the  amount  appro- 
priated by  the  General  Assembly. 

This  plan,  which  called  for  a plain  and  substantial  struc- 
ture of  brick,  relieved  by  terra  cotta  ornaments,  and  of  what 
is  known  as  the  slow-burning  construction,  was  adopted. 

After  an  examination  of  several  systems  for  the  purpose 
of  heating  and  ventilating  the  buildings,  your  committee 
decided  to  adopt  that  of  the  Sturtevant  Company  of  Boston, 
Mass. 

Bids  having  been  received,  the  contract  for  the  building 
was  awarded  to  Mr.  H.  B.  Phil  brick  of  Hartford,  and  for 
heating  and  ventilating  to  the  New  Haven  Heating  and 
Plumbing  Company  of  New  Haven. 

The  buildings  are  now  well  advanced  and  will  be  ready 
for  occupancy  in  the  early  spring. 

Water  w^as  conveyed  to  the  grounds  from  the  hospital 
reservoirs,  the  excavations  for  laying  the  pipes,  as  well  as 
the  grading  and  sewering,  being  done  by  the  inmates  of  the 
hospital  without  expense  to  the  State. 

The  cost  of  the  buildings  will  be  very  nearly  as  follows: 

Contract  for  mason  and  joiner  work,  slating,  painting,  and 


plumbing, $75,000.00 

Land,  5,000.00 

Heating  and  ventilating, 11,200.00 

Surveying 185.00 

Water-pipe  and  connec  tions,  1,166.00 

Architects  and  incidentals  (estimated), 3,500.00 


Total, $96,001.00 


471 


This  will  leave  a balance  of  about  $4,000  to  apply  to  fur- 
nishing the  building,  whieh  falls  below  the  estimate  for  that 
purpose,  but  your  committee  are  in  hopes  that  arrangements 
can  be  made  whereby  the  legislature  will  not  be  called  upon 
for  any  further  appropriation. 

SETH  J.  HALL,  \ 

MATTHEW  T.  NEWTON,  ) 

ANDREW  C.  SMITH,  Committee. 

SAMUEL  RUSSELL,  \ 

HENRY  WOODWARD,  / 


REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 


To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane : 

Gentlemen  : 

I beg  leave  to  present  for  your  consideration  the  following 
report  of  the  condition  of  the  hospital  during  the  two  years 
from  July  1,  1892,  to  June  30,  1894,  inclusive,  together  with 
tables  containing  such  information  as  your  by-laws  direct  con- 
cerning the  patients  admitted  and  discharged. 

The  changes  in  the  census  of  the  patients  during  this 
biennial  period  are  exhibited  in  condensed  form  thus: 


Men. 

Women. 

Total. 

Present  July  1,  1892,  .... 

696 

810 

1,506 

Admitted, 

882 

314 

696 

Discharged, 

325 

297 

622 

Present  June  30, 1894,  .... 

753 

827 

1,580 

It  appears  that  there  has  been  an  increase  of  seventy-four 
in  the  total  number  under  treatment,  and,  as  the  hospital 
was  full  to  overflowing  two  years  ago,  the  question  may 
naturally  be  asked,  How  has  it  been  possible  to  accommodate 
more  ? The  answer  is,  that  thirty-eight  patients  have  been 
temporarily  lodged  in  the  old  chapel  in  the  center  of  the  main 
building,  by  postponing  for  a time  other  uses  for  which  that 
room  is  needed  ; and  that  thirty  men  have  been  accommodated 
in  a comfortable  farm  house  standing  on  land  purchased  for 
additional  buildings,  while  a few  extra  beds  have  been 
crowded  in  here  and  there.  The  number  admitted  has  been 
fully  up  to  the  limit  of  the  hospital’s  capacity,  and  during  a 
large  part  of  the  time  it  has  been  impossible  to  receive  patients 
without  a delay  of  several  weeks.  It  has,  therefore,  been 


473 


necessary  to  caution  people  generally  to  make  application  for 
the  admission  of  patients  before  bringing  them  to  the  hospital, 
applicants  being  admitted  in  regular  turn  as  fast  as  the  oc- 
currence of  vacancies  permits. 

The  following  table  shows  the  methods  of  commitment 
which  justify  the  detention  in  the  hospital  of  the  patients 
present  June  30,  1894: 

1,413  committed  as  pauper  or  indigent  persons  by  the  probate  courts. 

14  committed  as  private  patients. 

27  committed  by  the  Soldiers’  Hospital  Board. 

6 committed  by  the  county  commissioners. 

42  committed  by  the  Governor’s  order. 

63  committed  by  the  superior  court. 

15  committed  by  the  police  courts. 

1,580  Total. 

To  the  question  how  these  patients  are  supported,  the 
answer  is  that : 

847  paupers  are  supported  by  towns  and  by  the  State. 

566  indigents  are  supported  by  friends  and  by  the  State. 

27  soldiers  are  supported  by  the  State. 

6 jail  convicts  are  supported  by  the  State. 

41  Governor’s  commitments  are  supported  by  the  State. 

1 Governor’s  commitment  is  supported  by  the  town  and  State. 

14  private  commitments  are  supported  by  private  funds. 

3 criminal  court  commitments  are  supported  by  private  funds. 

23  criminal  court  commitments  are  supported  by  towns  and  State. 

52  criminal  court  commitments  are  supported  by  the  State. 

1,580  Total. 

Commitments  by  the  governor  now  include  convicts  from 
the  State  Prison,  convicts  from  the  county  jails  (heretofore 
committed  only  by  the  county  commissioners)  and  insane 
paupers  not  belonging  to  any  town  in  this  State.*  With  the 
passage  of  Chapter  46,  Public  Acts,  1893,  providing  for  the 
commitment  by  the  governor  of  convicts  serving  sentences 
in  county  jails,  it  is  surprising  that  the  imperfect  statute  was 
not  repealed  which  permits  such  persons  to  be  sent  from  jails 
to  the  hospital  by  the  county  commissioners.  In  the  latter 
case  no  medical  certificate  of  the  patient’s  insanity  is  filed  at 
the  hospital,  nor  is  there  any  authority  for  the  patient’s  de- 


474 


tention  after  the  expiration  of  his  sentence  if  lie  continues  in- 
sane ; and  yet  he  may  be  so  demented  or  so  dangerous  that 
the  safety  of  himself  or  of  the  public  may  be  imperiled  by 
setting  him  at  liberty. 

The  distribution  of  the  patients  among  the  several  build- 
ings of  the  hospital  is  exhibited  in  the  following  table,  which 
also  indicates  howT  far  in  excess  of  the  true  capacity  of  the 
hospital  is  the  number  under  treatment  in  it : 


Capacity. 

Patients. 

Main  Hospital, 

470 

548 

Middle  Hospital, 

320 

370 

South  Hospital, 

340 

340 

Annex, 

30 

31 

Main  Cottage, 

190 

197 

Farm  Cottage, 

20 

20 

Fallon  Cottage, 

20 

21 

Roberts  Cottage, 

21 

23 

Hubbard  Cottage, 

30 

30 

Total,  June  30,  1894,  .... 

1,440 

1,580 

Evidently  this  system  of  detached  buildings,  the  larger 
ones  being  subdivided  into  separate  wards,  must  contribute 
very  greatly  to  diminish  the  unfavorable  influence  of  different 
types  of  insanity  upon  one  another. 

Even  a cursory  glance  through  the  wards  will  impress  the 
observer  with  the  large  preponderance  of  chronic  over  acute 
insanity.  Formerly,  in  one  of  the  tables  annually  printed, 
there  wTas  an  attempt  to  estimate  how  many  of  the  patients 
in  the  hospital  at  the  end  of  each  year  were  likely  to  recover. 
But  that  table  was  discontinued  long  ago,  so  small  was  the 
number  present  at  any  given  time  whose  recovery  could  be 
predicted  as  probable.  According  to  the  statistics  appended 
only  74  of  all  remaining  in  the  hospital  have  been  insane  less 
than  one  year,  and  1,018  have  been  insane  over  flve  years;  of 
all  admitted  during  the  last  biennial  period,  340  had  already 
been  insane  longer  than  one  year,  and  150  had  been  insane 
from  five  to  thirty  or  more  years  when  admitted.  Taking 


475 


into  consideration  other  circumstances  besides  duration, 
barely  one-third  of  358  persons  admitted  last  year  were  in 
such  a condition  as  would  justify  expectation  of  recovery 
even  in  the  most  favorable  environment. 

When  the  present  overcrowded  state  shall  have  been 
relieved  by  the  completion  of  the  building  now  in  process  of 
construction,  the  wards  of  the  main  hospital,  originally 
designed  for  the  reception  of  acute  cases,  might  be  better 
fitted  than  now  for  successful  treatment  in  various  ways 
additional  to  the  removal  of  chronic  disturbers.  For  instance, 
the  long,  rather  gloomy  corridors,  not  calculated  to  dispel 
timid  forebodings  from  the  minds  of  new  comers,  might 
become  far  more  attractive  by  projecting  bays,  as  appear  in 
buildings  of  later  date.  Infirmary  wards  or  buildings,  de- 
voted exclusively  to  the  care  of  patients  so  ill  as  to  require 
special  nursing,  also  might  be  beneficial;  and  a building  need 
not  be  large  to  hold  all  these  sick  persons  (were  it  best  to 
group  them),  for  the  number  confined  to  bed  is  surprisingly 
small  in  comparison  with  the  total,  as  shown  for  each  quarter 
of  last  year  by  the  subjoined  table : 


Patients. 

Male. 

Female. 

Total. 

1893 — July-Sept.  Average  number  present. 

715.08 

825.79 

1,540  87 

Average  number  sick  in  bed, 

3.22 

17.46 

20.68 

Oct. -Dec.  Average  number  present, 

710.68 

822  88 

1,539.57 

Average  number  sick  in  bed, 

3.91 

13.87 

17.78 

1894 — Jan. -Mar.  Average  number  present. 

741.46 

825  51 

1,566.97 

Average  number  sick  in  bed, 

0.13 

11  49 

17.62 

Apr. -June.  Average  number  present, 

747  16 

824  91 

1,572.08 

Average  number  sick  in  bed, 

6 37 

11.82 

18.19 

During  the  year.  Average  number  present, 

730.09 

824.77 

1,554.87 

Average  number  sick  in  bed, 

4.90 

13.66 

18.56 

However,  it  should  be  remembered  that  these  invalids, 
unlike  those  in  a general  hospital,  are  affected  with  such 
widely  different  forms  of  insanity  that  not  all  of  the  same 
sex  could  well  be  together.  Tempting  as  might  be  the  vine- 
screened  piazzas,  the  cheerful  fireplaces,  the  dainty  diet,  the 
trained  nursefe,  and  the  other  equipments  of  an  infirmary,  the 


476 


fastidious  hypochondriac  would  protest  against  being  near 
puerperal  mania.  Perhaps  of  more  practical  utility  would  be 
apartments  for  each  sex,  in  which  patients,  brought  from 
poorly  kept  almshouses  and  even  less  tidy  tenements,  might 
be  stripped  of  their  vermin-loaded  clothing  and  be  treated  to 
the  surprise  of  a Turkish  bath  before  admission  into  the 
wards. 

Under  the  title  of  toxic  insanity  (table  XI)  are  classified 
twelve  persons,  admitted  during  the  biennial  period,  who 
were  insane  only  so  far  as  addicted  to  the  excessive  use  of 
certain  drugs  — alcohol,  morphine,  chloral.  These  having 
been  eliminated,  the  patients  were  rational  and  were  dis- 
charged not  as  recovered,  for  brief  abstinence  from  habitual 
indulgence  is  not  supposed  to  be  curative,  but  as  unimproved. 
Strangely  enough,  it  is  sometimes  necessary  to  inform  people 
that  this  is  not  an  inebriate  asylum. 

The  statistical  tables  also  show  that  during  the  last  two 
years  five  persons  were  admitted  who  disclosed  subsequently 
no  evidences  of  insanity.  After  such  detention  as  study  of 
their  cases  and  respect  due  to  the  committing  authorities 
demanded,  they  were  discharged  as  not  insane,  without 
intending  thereby  to  reflect  upon  the  judgment  or  sincerity 
of  our  professional  brethren,  who  signed  certificates  of 
insanity. 

Take  for  example  the  following  case:  A girl,  16  years  of 

age,  with  a hereditary  predisposition  to  insanity  and  an 
excitable  temperament,  after  inhaling  nitrous  oxide  gas, 
exhibited  hysterical  symptoms,  appeared  to  have  hallucina- 
tions of  sight,  was  violent  and  threatened  suicide.  These 
phenomena  alternated  with  occasional  lucid  intervals  for 
several  weeks,  until  reluctantly  it  was  decided  to  remove  her 
from  home  to  the  hospital,  and  she  was  committed  in  due 
form.  The  result  was  that  the  power  of  self  control  promptly 
reasserted  itself*  and,  after  spending  three  weeks  here  without 
any  indication  of  insanity,  the  patient  was  gladly  welcomed 
home,  certainly  no  worse  for  her  visit. 

Another  patient  not  insane  was  a convict ; and  in  respect 
to  this  class  of  persons  the  utmost  precautions  against  error 


477 


are  unquestionably  exercised.  Yet  this  shrewd  thief  was 
not  the  first  convict  to  interrupt  the  monotony  of  imprison- 
ment by  feigning  insanity  successfully.  Two  of  them  have 
been  brought  from  the  prison  three  times  with  histories  of 
violent  mania,  never  exhibited  here.  Reported  to  be  sane, 
each  one  has  twice  been  taken  back  to  prison  only  to  exem- 
plify the  truth  of  a well-known  writer’s  observations  that  “there 
are  persons  in  these  asylums  who  rather  try  to  suppress  than 
to  welcome  symptoms  of  recovery,  and  when  turned  out  they 
manoeuvre  to  get  in  again.” 

Not  merely  does  the  existing  statute  tempt  the  malingerer, 
but  it  increases  the  risk  of  escapes.  The  rigorous  discipline 
and  safeguards  of  a prison  are  not  in  harmony  wfith  the  spirit 
of  a hospital.  No  patients  need  exercise  and  occupation 
more  than  do  these  convicts,  but  no  others  are  so  watchful 
of  the  smallest  loop-hole.  Two  of  them,  last  year,  while  at 
work  under  apparently  sufficient  guard,  managed  to  escape. 
Otherwise  they  would  a little  later  have  returned  to  prison, 
for  their  insanity — of  that  peculiarly  transitory  type  — had 
vanished  on  the  way  hither. 

Of  all  others  who  attempted  to  escape  during  the  biennial 
period,  only  one  is  missing  — a man  who  had  been  accustomed 
to  help  in  the  lawn  work  and  had  shown  no  disposition  to 
harm  himself  or  any  one  else.  In  such  cases  as  this  the  mis- 
fortune of  occasional  escapes  is  believed  to  be  overbalanced 
by  the  benefits  of  occupation  or  “industrial  treatment,”  as 
some  one  has  put  it,  and  aptly,  too,  for  the  things  that  may 
engage  an  insane  person’s  attention  and  may  keep  his  hands 
out  of  mischief,  are  by  no  means  beneath  the  notice  of  the 
physician,  and  wThen  among  several  hundred  cases  of  chronic 
insanity  not  a dozen  are  ailing,  but  many  idle,  surely  it  is 
strictly  within  the  bounds  of  medical  work  to  devise  various 
methods  of  keeping  as  many  patients  as  possible  busy  in 
healthful  ways.  It  is  well  to  remember  that  not  every 
chronic  case  is  incurable.  Of  1,395  recoveries,  it  appears 
(table  XIX)  that  419  cases  — nearly  one-third — had  been  in- 
sane longer  than  a year,  and  that  nearly  fifty  of  them  recovered 
after  a duration  of  more  than  five  years.  For  a year  or  two, 


in  the  winter  days  especially,  an  increasing  amount  of  needle- 
work has  been  done  in  the  women’s  wards,  and  credit  is  due 
to  the  supervisors  and  attendants  whose  active  cooperation 
contributed  to  good  results.  Statements  of  the  amount  and 
variety  of  work  done  in  the  sewing-rooms  and  the  men’s 
workshop  are  appended  for  the  purpose  of  showing  how  some 
of  the  patients  are  employed.  The  word  occupation,  if  used 
not  merely  in  the  sense  of  labor,  but  of  whatever  keeps  one 
busy,  embraces  such  diversions  as  games,  reading  circles, 
schoolroom  exercises,  and  winter  evening  entertainments; 
the  latter  involving  an  expenditure  justified  only  on  account 
of  the  benefit  derived  from  them  by  intelligent  patients;  and 
it  is  solely  on  this  account  that  the  medical  staff  lead  in  the 
preparation  of  these  entertainments.  As  an  element  of 
treatment,  also,  the  musical  organizations  — the  band  and  the 
orchestra  — are  kept  up  under  the  efficient  direction  of  a 
member  of  the  staff. 

In  the  department  of  gynaecology  it  has  become  custom- 
ary for  the  female  patients  soon  after  admission  to  meet  a 
physician  of  their  own  sex  whose  duty  is  to  ascertain  about 
the  existence  of  diseases  peculiar  to  women.  In  about  half 
of  the  number  admitted  during  the  two  years  under  review 
there  was  either  no  probability  of  local  disease  or  there  were 
sufficient  reasons  to  forbid  examination.  The  majority  of 
the  155  women  examined  suffered  more  or  less  from  morbid 
conditions  susceptible  of  at  least  partial  benefit  from  treat- 
ment adopted.  This  work  was  done  mostly  by  Dr.  Mary 
Harley,  whose  service  of  eighteen  months  as  interne  extended 
from  the  conclusion  of  Dr.  Sherman’s  term,  December,  1892, 
to  June,  1891,  when  Dr.  Weston  was  engaged. 

In  the  department  of  pathology  it  is  gratifying  to  note 
more  minute  and  systematic  study  than  has  been  possible  in 
years  past.  For,  when  the  temporary  absence  of  one  and 
another  of  the  assistant  physicians  made  additional  help 
necessary,  a recruit  was  secured  in  the  person  of  Dr.  L.  Pierce 
Clark,  who  was  recommended  by  his  instructors,  and  has 
shown  ability  to  do  creditable  work  in  this  branch  of  medical 


science. 


479 


Looking  over  the  record  of  deaths  during  the  biennial 
period,  it  appears  (table  XXIII)  that  only  two  of  them  were 
due  to  causes  of  such  a nature  as  to  call  for  special  mention. 
One  was  a case  of  diphtheria,  which  developed  a week  after 
the  patient’s  admission.  There  had  been  no  diphtheria  in  the 
house  for  a long  time  previously,  and  no  other  deaths  from 
this  cause  followed.  The  other  case  was  that  of  a man,  who 
had  been  in  the  hospital  three  years,  and  lost  his  life  by 
rashly  trying  to  escape  at  night  from  an  upper  window.  The 
improvised  rope  of  bed  covering  parted  tand  the  patient,  fall- 
ing to  the  ground,  sustained  injuries  from  which  death 
resulted  within  six  hours.  Nearly  a fifth  of  all  who  died  since 
the  opening  of  the  hospital  had  passed  the  age  of  three-score 
and  ten  years,  and  more  than  a third  of  them  (table  XXIV)  had 
been  deprived  of  reason  from  five  to  fifty  years,  waiting  for 
“ life’s  tedious  nothing  ” to  be  ended. 

The  list  of  major  improvements  made  under  your  direc- 
tion represents  fairly  the  variety  of  mechanical  work  which, 
in  addition  to  numerous  minor  repairs,  must  be  provided  for 
in  each  year’s  estimate  of  expenses. 

First  in  point  of  time  is  to  be  noted  an  ice-house,  located 
beside  one  of  the  reservoirs,  capacity  1,200  gross  tons,  like  the 
one  already  standing  near  the  other  buildings,  the  intent 
b^ing  to  gather  a double  crop  whenever  practicable,  in  order 
to  prepare  for  the  contingency  of  a mild  winter.  Such  was 
the  next  winter  after  the  new  house  was  filled. 

2.  An  additional  piggery,  well  lighted  and  ventilated, 
containing  seventeen  pens  — each  one  usually  the  nursery  of 
a little  family  — was  built  on  a stone  foundation  with  brick 
walls  from  the  ground  to  three  feet  above  the  floor,  wooden 
superstructure  and  slate  roof.  The  floor  is  easily  kept  clean, 
all  refuse  matter  dropping  through  trap  doors  into  the 
cellar. 

3.  The  system  of  sewerage  disposal  by  surface  irrigation 
was  extended  by  laying  3,300  feet  of  six-inch  cast-iron  pipe 
across  Butler’s  Creek  and  up  to  the  top  of  the  ridge,  on  either 
side  of  which  the  cultivated  part  of  the  farm  is  located.  The 
effect  was  not  only  to  increase  the  quantity  of  produce  by 


480 


enriching  the  soil,  but,  by  watering  it,  vegetation  was  saved 
from  destruction  during  a drought. 

4.  In  the  main  building  the  original  inflammable  partition 
walls  of  six  elevator  wells  were  replaced  by  brick  carried  up 
through  the  roof,  and  a seventh  elevator  well  was  abolished 
by  uniting  the  dining-rooms  on  each  floor.  The  brick  walls 
of  two  dust  chutes  terminating  in  the  attic  were  also  con- 
tinued through  the  roof,  in  order  to  lessen  tire  risks. 

5.  A frame  cottage,  containing  eight  bedrooms,  was  erected 
in  a retired  part  of  the  grounds  to  provide  suitable  sleeping 
quarters  for  persons  on  night  duty.  The  rooms  on  the  wards 
which  they  vacated  were  tilled  by  patients. 

6.  The  workshop  in  the  annex  being  no  longer  large 
enough,  a one-story  shop  of  brick  with  slate  roof  was  built 
close  by.  Its  floor  space  (79  x 20  feet)  is  no  more  than  is 
needed  for  the  variety  of  work  carried  on. 

7.  In  the  corridors  of  two  wards,  where  plaster  had  begun 
to  fall  and  was  considered  unsafe,  metal  ceilings  were 
applied. 

8.  A flag-stone  walk,  four  feet  wide,  was  laid  around  the 
north  end  of  the  main  building,  connecting  the  walks  in 
front  and  rear,  and  enabling  walking  parties  of  patients  to 
make  a complete  circuit  of  the  grounds  dry-shod. 

9.  The  farm  of  about  fifty-two  acres,  purchased  from  the 
heirs  of  the  late  Elisha  S.  Hubbard,  opens  the  way  to  further 
improvements,  for  it  extends  from  the  northern  boundary  of 
the  hospital  grounds  across  the  Valley  railway  to  the  Con- 
necticut river;  and  it  is  apparent  that  some  sort  of  railway 
connection  with  the  coal  bunkers  and  storehouses  is  needed 
more  and  more  every  year.  A considerable  portion  of  this 
farm  is  a desirable  addition  to^tlie  tillable  land  belonging  to 
the  hospital,  and  a portion  not  cultivated,  when  cleared  of 
underbrush,  can  be  made  most  attractive  to  walking  parties. 
The  large  substantial  farm  house  on  the  premises  — one  of 
the  landmarks  of  this  region  — has  been  repaired,  supplied 
with  water  and  steam  heat  and  furnished  for  thirty  patients. 
By  this  purchase  an  admirable  site  was  obtained  for  building 
additional  accommodations  for  patients  as  required  by  an  act 


481 


of  the  last  General  Assembly.  A front  view  and  first-floor 
plan  of  the  structure  contracted  for  were  prepared  under 
the  direction  of  the  architects,  Messrs.  Curtis  & Johnson,  of 
Hartford,  to  accompany  similar  illustrations  of  the  three 
other  principal  buildings,  all  the  floor  plans  being  reduced  to 
a uniform  scale  to  facilitate  comparisons. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  hospital  is  exhibited  in  the 
statements  appended  in  connection  with  the  treasurer’s  report. 
The  balance  on  hand  has  been  very  considerably  reduced  by 
the  purchase  of  the  Hubbard  property  and  by  the  payment 
of  seventy  thousand  dollars  to  the  committee  elected  to  erect 
further  accommodations.  The  price  of  board  for  beneficiaries 
was  reduced  in  April,  1893,  to  the  low  rate  of  $2.80  weekly. 
Nevertheless,  it  has  thus  far  been  possible,  without  lowering 
the  standard  of  care,  to  keep  the  expenses  of  maintenance 
within  the  revenue. 

The  farmer’s  report  of  the  quantity  and  estimated  value  of 
farm  products  is  appended.  With  plenty  of  men  ready  to 
labor  simply  for  the  sake  of  exercise,  with  large  quantities  of 
fertilizing  material  to  be  disposed  of,  and  with  a demand  at 
home  for  all  the  crops  that  can  be  raised,  the  utility  of  the 
hospital’s  farm  would  seem  to  be  unquestionable. 

In  acknowledging  favors  received,  it  is  fitting  first  of  all 
to  thank  the  clergymen  of  the  vicinity  who  have  cheerfully 
responded  to  our  call  and  whose  ministrations,  both  public 
and  private,  have  been  gratefully  appreciated  by  many 
patients.  For  the  pleasure  experienced  at  secular  gatherings 
during  the  past  two  winters  the  patients  are  indebted  to 
various  friends,  as  shown  by  the  following  list  of  entertain- 
ments : 

MUSICAL  AND  DRAMATIC*. 

“ Esmeralda,”  by  students  of  Wesleyan  University. 

Entertainment  by  the  “ Bee  Society.” 

Concert  by  Misses  St.  John,  Mack,  and  Sherman. 

Concert  by  Mr  Ericsson  F.  Bushnell,  supported  by  the  Hospital 
Orchestra. 

Concert  by  the  St.  John’s  Church  Choir. 

By  the  Hospital  Company,  plays  three  evenings,  varieties  two 
evenings,  concerts  two  evenings. 

31 


482 


LECTURES. 

By  Mr  George  L.  Chase,  “ The  Sandwich  Islands. ” 

By  B.  G.  Northrop,  LL.D.,  “ The  New  Era  in  Japan  ” 

By  B.  G.  Northrop,  LL.D  , “Village  Improvement.’' 

By  Mr.  Ernest  King,  “ Waterloo.” 

By  Mr.  Ernest  King,  “Popular  Delusions.” 

By  Dr.  Keniston,  “Mozart.” 

By  Dr.  Keniston,  “Handel  and  Haydn.” 

By  Dr.  Keniston,  “Beethoven.” 

LECTURES  ILLUSTRATED  BY  THE  STEREOPTICON. 

By  Rev.  P.  M.  Snyder,  “ Switzerland.” 

By  Mr.  W.  R.  Morgan,  “ St.  Peter’s  and  the  Vatican  ” 

By  Mr.  H.  C.  Whittlesey,  “Japan  and  the  Japanese.” 

By  Mr.  K.  H.  Kazanjian,  “Syria.” 

By  Prof.  E.  T.  Merrill,  “ Stories  of  Ancient  Rome.” 

By  Mr.  Frederick  L. 'Chapin,  “The  Cliff  Dwellers.” 

By  Prof.  H.  E.  Northrop,  “Italy.” 

By  Prof.  H.  E.  Northrop,  “Germany.” 

By  Prof.  H.  E.  Northrop,  “Ireland.” 

By  Mr.  Frank  G.  Jester,  “ The  Columbian  Exposition.” 

By  Dr.  Noble,  “ Shakespeare.” 

By  Dr.  Noble,  “England.” 

By  Dr.  Stanley,  “Washington.” 

By  Dr.  Coleburn,  “Ireland.” 

READINGS. 

By  Prof.  R.  G.  Hibbard  ; by  Miss  Lizzie  D.  Lyman  ; by  Miss 
Gertrude  Grier  ; by  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Pickering ; by  Miss 
Adele  Weber  (two  evenings). 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Exhibition  of  clay  modeling  by  Mr.  E.  S.  Woods. 

Crayon  sketches  by  Mr.  George  E.  Little. 

Ventriloquism  by  Mr.  H.  T.  Bryant,  two  evenings. 

Dancing  parties,  twenty-five  evenings. 

The  hospital  is  under  obligations  to  the  family  of  Mr.  John 
N.  Camp  for  a portrait  which  keeps  memories  of  him  fresh 
in  mind.  Mr.  E.  Iv.  Ilubbard  presented  a large  number  of 
pictures  to  decorate  the  wards.  Hon.  D.  N.  Morgan  pre- 
sented a map  of  Connecticut,  prepared  by  the  recent  U.  S. 
Geological  Survey.  Prayer  book  and  hymnals  were  given 
by  Prof.  Binney.  Books  were  given  by  the  Commissioner- 


483 


General  of  the  Argentine  Republic,  by  Mr.  Frank  B.  Weeks, 
Mr.  Edward  B.  Wells,  Mr.  Frank  A.  Young.  The  current 
numbers  of  the  Century  Magazine  were  contributed  by  Mr. 
L.  R.  Hazen,  and  a large  box  of  periodicals  by  Mr.  D.  S. 
Moseley.  Illustrated  magazines  and  other  periodicals  were 
received  from  Mr.  H.  D.  A.  Ward,  Mrs.  B.  N.  Tompkins, 
Miss  Etta  Taylor,  Mrs.  J.  M.  S.  Carter,  Mr.  G.  R.  Knowles, 
Mr.  W.  W.  Wilcox,  Mr.  Frank  B.  Weeks;  illustrated  papers 
from  Mrs.  A.  R.  Parsliley,  Dr.  F.  S.  Quackenbos,  the  pub- 
lishers of  Puck,  and  the  Middletown  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Religious 
papers  came  from  Rev.  Henry  A.  Starks,  Mr.  L.  R.  Hazen, 
Prof.  C.  T.  Winchester,  Mrs.  L.  B.  Culver.  In  Fairfield 
County  Mr.  Charles  IT.  Meder  collected  four  boxes  of  miscel- 
laneous reading  matter.  Thanks  are  also  due  for  contribu- 
tions from  unknown  sources  in  the  “ Hospital  Box”  which 
Mr.  Hazen  kindly  permits  to  stand  in  his  store.  Files  of 
exchanges  from  the  office  of  the  Penny  Press  gave  pleasure 
to  patients,  likewise  indebted  to  the  publishers  of  the  follow- 
ing newspapers  for  gratuitous  copies  : 


Hartford  Daily  Courant,  . 

do.  Weekly  Times,  . 

Religious  Herald,  weekly, 

New  Haven  Weekly  Palladium,  . 

The  Connecticut  Catholic,  weekly, 

The  Middlesex  County  Record,  weekly, 
The  Colchester  Advocate,  weekly, 

The  Morning  News,  daily, 

The  Tolland  County  Journal,  weekly, 
The  Herald,  daily, 

The  Standard,  weekly, 


Hartford,  Conn. 


do.  do. 

do.  do. 

New  Haven,  do. 
Hartford,  do. 
Portland,  do. 
Colchester,  do. 
New  Haven,  do. 
Rockville,  do. 
Middletown,  do. 
Bridgeport,  do. 


It  is  a particularly  gratifying  reflection  that  the  resident 
officers  and  heads  of  various  departments,  who  by  long 
experience  have  become  familiar  with  affairs,  continue  in  the 
service  of  the  hospital  with  undiminished  devotion  and 
ability.  Others,  who  have  shown  no  less  fidelity  and  effi- 
ciency in  their  respective  spheres  of  duty,  are  equally 
deserving  of  praise.  To  work  with  such  help,  laboring 
together  harmoniously,  is  indeed  satisfactory. 


484 


Your  constant  interest  in  the  progress  of  the  hospital  and 
the  welfare  of  its  patients,  and  the  frequent  opportunities  for 
consultation  with  the  committees  of  your  board  and  with 
individual  members  have  been  most  welcome  and  beneficial. 

With  the  earnest  hope  that  the  philanthropic  purposes,  for 
which  the  institution  exists,  may  with  its  growth  be  accom- 
plished more  perfectly  than  in  its  youth,  this  report  is 
Respectfully  submitted, 

JAMES  OLMSTEAD,  M.D., 

Super  in  tenden  t. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  June  30, 1894. 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 


Annual  Statement  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  In- 
sane, for  the  Year  Ending  June  30 , 1893 . 


receipts. 

Balance  of  cash  on  hand  July  1,  1892,  . . 

Amount  of  revenue  from  Hospital  orders  in  July, 

“ “ “ “ “ August, 

“ “ “ “ “ September, 

“ “ “ “ “ October,  . 

“ “ “ “ “ November, 

“ “ “ “ “ December, 

'Six  months’  interest  on  balance  in  Middletown  Nat’n’l  Bank, 
Six  months’  interest  on  Sargent  Fund  ($1,000), 

Amount  of  revenue  from  Hospital  orders  in  January,  1893,  . 
“ “ “ “ “ February, 

“ “ “ “ “ March, 

“ “ “ “ “ April, 

“ “ “ “ “ May, 

“ “ “ “ “ June, 

Six  months’  interest  on  balance  in  Middletown  Nat’n’l  Bank, 
Six  months’  interest  on  Sargent  Fund, 


DISBURSEMENTS. 

Amount  of  Superintendent’s  orders  paid  in  July,  1892,  . 

“ “ “ “ August, 

“ “ “ “ September, 

“ “ “ “ October, 

“ “ “ “ November, 

“ “ “ “ December,  . 

“ “ “ “ January,  1893, 

“ “ “ “ February,  . 

“ “ March, 

“ “ April, 

“ *(  May,  . 

“ “ “ **  June, 

Balance  deposited  in  Middletown  National  Bank,  . 


$60,064.68 
32,346  00 
18,546.02 

8.376.28 

34.894.84 
15,024.08 
13,731.39 

1,484.72 

20.00 

80,338.98 

14.687.84 
12,113.01 
32,664.42 
16,301.26 

10.102.85 

1.702.29 
20.00 


$352,418.66 


$20,900.00 

27,514.19 

17,510.40 

19.446.78 
16,449.49 

19.865.78 
19,342.95 
18,181.28 
13,567.30 
17,396.14 
16,742.52 
21,666  42 

123,835.41 


$352,418.66 


M.  B.  COPELAND,  Treasurer. 


We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  accounts  of  M.  B.  Cope- 
land, Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  from  July  1, 
1892,  to  June  30,  1893,  inclusive  (Hospital  fiscal  year),  compared  them 
with  the  vouchers,  and  found  the  same  correct.  The  balance  in  the 
hands  of  the  treasurer  on  said  date  was  one  hundred  and  twenty-three 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-five  dollars  and  forty  one  cents  ($123,- 
835.41),  which  includes  the  sum  of  forty-four  thousand  and  two  hundred 
dollars  ($44,200.00),  the  special  appropriation  mentioned  in  the  report  of 
June  30,  1892. 

E.  Livingston  Wells,  ) Auditors  of 
Oscar  Leach,  [ Public  Accounts. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  Feb.  3,  1894. 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 


Annual  Statement  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  In- 
sane, for  the  Tear  Ending  June  30,  1894. 


RECEIPTS. 


Balance  of  account  as  rendered  July  1,  1893,  . 

. $123,835.41 

Amount  of  revenue  in  July, 

35,169.98 

“ “ August, 

13,770.93 

“ “ September, 

10,464.70 

“ October, 

27,669.03 

“ “ November, 

12,702.49 

“ “ December, 

16,198.49 

Amount  of  interest  received  on  Sargent  Fund  ($1,000), 

20.00 

Six  months’  interest  on  bank  deposit,  .... 

1,621.86 

Amount  of  revenue  in  January,  1894,  .... 

40,810.98 

“ “ February, 

14,299.91 

“ “ March, 

9,612.43 

“ “ April, 

33,472.04 

“ “ May, 

13,966.91 

“ June, 

12,844.54 

Amount  of  interest  received  on  Sargent  Fund, 

20.00 

Six  months’  interest  on  bank  deposit,  .... 

1,588.18 

$370,067.88 

DISBURSEMENTS. 


Amount  of  Superintendent’s  orders  paid  in  July,  1893.  . 

August, 
September, 
October, 
November, 
December,  . 
January,  1894, 
February,  . 
March, 

April, 

May, 

June, 


Balance  of  cash  on  hand  June  30 


1894, 


. $16,395.47 

43,607.71 
21,237.05 
17,558.07 
19,514.60 
21,712.79 
25,662.89 
13,288.59 
15,914.20 
15,628.95 
26,736.17 
77.011.62 
55,799.77 


$370,067.88 


M.  B.  COPELAND,  Treasurer. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  July  2,  1894. 


We  hereby  certify  that  we  have  examined  the  accounts  of  M B.  Cope- 
land, Treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  from  July  V 
1893,  to  June  30,  1894,  inclusive  (Hospital  fiscal  year),  compared  them 
with  the  vouchers,  and  found  the  same  correct.  The  balance  in  the  hands 
of  the  treasurer  on  said  date  was  fifty-five  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-nine  dollars  and  seventy-seven  cents  ($55,799.77). 

Oscar  Leacii,  ) Auditor's  of 

E.  Livingston  Wells,  j>  Public  Accounts. 

Middletown,  Conn.,  Dec.  18,  1894. 


MEMORANDA 


OF  THE 

First  Quarter  Century 

OF  THE 

Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane. 


The  spring  of  1893  really  witnessed  the  completion  of  the 
first  quarter  century  of  the  hospital’s  existence,  for  although 
conceived  in  1866  by  the  u Act  to  create  a hospital  for  the 
insane  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,”  which  was  followed  by 
the  chrysalis  stage  of  development,  its  birthday  cannot  truly 
be  said  to  have  occurred  until  it  was  delivered  to  the  public, 
April  30,  1868,  a sturdy  infant,  ready  to  begin  the  ever- 
extending  career  of  usefulness  to  humanity,  fitly  predicted 
by  the  inspiring  words  of  the  preamble  to  the  act  of  its 
creation : 

“ Whereas , The  report  of  the  commission  appointed  by 
this  assembly  in  the  year  1865  shows  that  there  are  seven 
hundred  and  six  insane  persons  in  the  State  of  Connecticut, 
of  whom  two  hundred  and  two  are  in  the  Retreat  at  Hart- 
ford ; two  hundred  and  four  are  in  the  almshouses ; and 
three  hundred  outside  of  both ; and  whereas,  it  is  impossible 
to  secure  suitable  care  and’  medical  attention  for  this  large 
and  deeply  afflicted  class,  either  in  the  Retreat  or  in  the 
almshouses,  or  in  private  houses ; and  whereas,  considera- 
tions of  humanity  and  of  true  economy,  as  well  as  public 
welfare,  and  of  our  holy  religion,  all  alike  demand  that  these 
persons  should  liberally  be  provided  for  by  the  State ; there- 


488 


fore,  be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
in  General  Assembly  convened.” 

Then  follow  the  several  sections  of  the  act,  which,  as 
modified  and  supplemented  by  other  later  acts,  appears  in 
the  revision  of  the  General  Statutes,  1888,  as  follows  : 

“ The  land  of  the  State  and  its  appurtenances  in  Middle- 
town  shall  be  and  remain  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane.* 

“ Its  government  shall  be  vested  in  a board  consisting  of 
the  Governor  and  twelve  trustees  to  be  appointed  by  the 
Senate,  one  from  each  county  and  four  from  the  vicinity  of 
the  institution.  During  the  regular  session  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  1889  the  Senate  shall  appoint  six  of  said  trus- 
tees, of  whom  three  shall  hold  office  for  four  years  from  the 
first  day  of  July,  1889,  and  three  for  three  years  from  the 
first  day  of  July,  1890.  During  the  regular  session  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  1891,  and  biennially  thereafter,  the 
Senate  shall  appoint  six  trustees,  who  shall  hold  office  for 
four  years  from  the  first  day  of  July  following  their  appoint- 
ment. The  Governor  may  fill  any  vacancy  which  occurs 
during  the  recess  of  the  General  Assembly,  until  its  next 
regular  session.  No  trustee  shall  receive  compensation  for 
his  services. 

“ The  trustees  shall  have  charge  of  the  general  interests 
of  the  institution,  make  and  execute  its  by-laws,  appoint  and 
remove  its  officers  and  attendants,  fix  their  compensation, 
exercise  a strict  supervision  over  all  its  expenditures,  and 
may  receive  by  bequest,  devise,  or  gift,  property  for  the  use 
of  the  hospital.f 

“ They  shall  appoint  a superintendent,  not  of  their  own 
number,  who  shall  be  a competent  physician  and  reside  in  or 
near  the  hospital. 


*“  And  said  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane  shall  have  power  to 
sue  in  its  own  name  for  all  debts  or  demands  due  to  said  hospital/’ — Pub- 
lic Acts , 1889,  Chap.  129 , Sec.  1. 

f “ And  may  make  purchases  of  lands,  and  take  deeds  therefor  in  their 
own  name.” — Public  Acts,  1889 , Chap.  129,  Sec.  2. 


489 


“ They  shall  appoint  a treasurer,  with  a salary  not  exceed- 
ing four  hundred  dollars  a year,  who  shall  give  a bond  to  the 
State  of  ten  thousand  dollars  to  account  faithfully  for  all 
property  received  by  him  as  treasurer,  and  keep  accurate  ac- 
counts of  his  receipts  and  expenditures,  and  of  the  property 
entrusted  to  him,  which  accounts,  with  the  vouchers,  shall  be 
submitted  quarterly,  and  oftener  if  required,  to  the  trustees, 
with  a written  statement  of  his  disbursements  and  funds  in 


hand ; and  his  books 

shall  be  at 

all  times 

open 

to  the 

trustees.” 

From  1866,  then,  the 

successive  Governors  of 

: Connecticut 

have  been  ex  officio  members  of  the 

board  of  trustees.  The 

names  of  the  other  members  and  the  terms  of  their 

service 

are  as  follows : 

Service 

Service 

Trustees. 

Began. 

Ended. 

Robbins  Battell, 

1866 

1891 

William  B.  Casey,  M.D., 

1866 

1870 

Richard  S.  Fellowes,  . 

1866 

1884 

11.  Sidney  Hayden, 

1866 

1889 

Leverett  E.  Pease, 

1866 

1869 

B.  W.  Tompkins, 

1866 

1869 

Samuel  G.  Willard, 

1866 

1887 

Curtiss  T.  Woodruff,  . 

1866 

1870 

Joseph  Cummings,  M.D., 

1967 

1877 

Benjamin  Douglas, 

1867 

1894 

Julius  Hotchkiss, 

1867 

1878 

Lucius  S.  Fuller, 

1869 

1890 

John  Tracy, 

1869 

1870 

Joseph  D.  Bates, 

1870 

1876 

Henry  Woodward, 

1890 



Samuel  Lynes,  M.D., 

1871 

1876 

Richmond  M.  Bullock,  . 

1876 

1883 

Ezra  P.  Bennett,  M.D., 

1876 

1881 

Elisha  B Nye,  M.D., 

1877 

1889 

Joseph  W.  Alsop,  M.D., 

1878 

1891 

James  G.  Gregory,  M.D., 

1881 

1884 

James  G.  Gregory,  M.D., 

1888 

1891 

Clark  E.  Barrows, 

1884 

1890 

Henry  B Harrison, 

1884 

1885 

Henry  P.  Geib,  M.D.,  . 

1884 

1888 

James  E.  English, 

1885 

1889 

Costello  Lippitt, 

1887 



Leverett  M.  Leach, 

1887 

1891 

490 


Superintendents. 

James  Graham,  . 

Edward  S.  Cleveland, 
John  N.  Camp, 

George  H.  Nichols, 

Wilbur  B.  Foster, 

William  Bissell,  M.D., 
Austin  E.  May,  M.D  , . 

Andrew  C.  Smith, 

Elijah  K.  Hubbard, 

Samuel  Russell, 

William  D Morgan,  M.D., 
Frank  B.  Weeks, 

Horace  F.  Boardman,  . 

Superintendents. 

Abram  Marvin  Shew,  M.D., 
James  Olmstead,  M.D., 
Treasurers. 

Abram  Marvin  Shew,  . 

M.  B.  Copeland, 


Service 

Service 

Began. 

Ended. 

1889 

1891 

1889 

1893 

1889 

1893 

1890 

— 

1891 

— 

1891 

— 

1891 

— 

1891 

— 

1891 

— 

1891 

— 

1893 

— 

1893 

— 

1894 

— 

Service 

Service 

Began. 

Ended. 

1866 

1886 

1886 

— 

1866 

1867 

1867 

— 

Middletown,  picturesquely  situated  on  a bend  of  the  Con- 
necticut River,  nearly  at  the  center  of  the  State  and  easily 
reached  from  all  points  within  its  circumference,  was  chosen 
as  the  location  for  the  hospital,  not  only  because  central,  but 
also  because  here  it  was  possible  to  obtain  by  gravity  abund- 
ance of  water  and  to  dispose  of  sewage  by  the  simple  method 
of  surface  irrigation  on  the  farm ; and  the  river  is  conven- 
iently near  for  the  delivery  of  coal  and  other  freight.  The 
people  of  Middletown  warmly  welcomed  the  institution  by 
granting  a suitable  farm  and  valuable  water  privileges,  as 
fully  set  forth  in  the  following  pledge  of  conveyance  by  the 
town  to  the  State. 


Whereas , The  State  of  Connecticut,  by  recent  act  of  the  legisla- 
ture, has  decided  to  establish  a ‘ General  Hospital  for  the  Insane  of 
the  State,’  and  has  entrusted  the  selection  of  a site  for  the  same  to 
a board  of  trustees  chosen  by  said  legislature,  which  board  sign i tied 
its  wish  to  receive  propositions  relative  to  this  object  from  any 
town  in  the  State;  and 

“ Whereas^  The  town  of  Middletown,  at  a special  meeting,  duly 
called  and  held  on  the  4th  day  of  August,  1866,  did  vote  to  appro- 


491 


priate  a sufficient  sum  of  money  for  the  purchasing  and  presenting 
to  the  State  a suitable  farm,  on  condition  that  said  board  of  trus- 
tees select  some  locality  in  the  town  of  Middletown  as  the  site  for 
said  hospital  for  the  insane;  and 

“ Whereas,  The  said  town  of  Middletown  did,  at  other  special 
meetings  duly  held,  viz.;  on  the  12th  and  24th  days  of  October, 
A.D.  I860,  vote  the  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  to  pay  for 
such  lands  as  may  be  so  selected  in  case  said  hospital  should  be 
located  in  Middletown,  and  in  such  case  did  also  vote  to  guarantee 
to  said  board  of  trustees  the  full  and  complete  use  and  enjoyment 
of  the  water  of  Butler’s  creek  and  Silver  creek,  so-called,  or  either 
of  them,  and  to  procure  such  lands,  title,  and  interest  as  may  be 
deemed  expedient,  for  the  purpose  of  making  reservoirs  upon  said 
streams,  and  to  lay  down  pipes  to  convey  the  water  from  said 
streams  for  the  use  of  said  hospital,  with  the  right  also  to  use  the 
town  wharf  at  Butler’s  creek  by  said  trustees  for  purposes  con- 
nected therewith;  and 

“ Whereas , The  said  trustees,  at  a meeting  of  their  board  held  in 
Middletown  on  the  15th  day  of  October,  A.D.  1866,  for  the  purpose 
of  deciding  the  question  of  locating  the  site  foi  said  insane  hospital; 
after  a full  hearing  of  all  parties  interested,  and  upon  all  proposi- 
tions that  were  made  to  said  board  of  trustees  for  this  purpose, 
did  vote  unanimously  to  locate  said  General  Hospital  for  the  Insane 
of  this  State  at  Middletown,  and  upon  the  lands  of  Joseph  Try  on, 
Reuben  R.  Tryon,  Elijah  Tryon,  Charles  H.  Williams,  Elias  Pad- 
dock, Stephen  H.  Paddock,  and  a piece  of  land  belonging  to  said 
town  of  Middletown;  and  the  above  said  owners  of  said  lots  of 
land  having  severally  executed  warrantee  deeds  (agreeable  to  the 
survey)  to  the  1 'trustees  of  the  General  Hospital  for  the  Insane  of 
the  State,’  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  one  hundred  and  fif'ty- 
eigfit  acres,  be  the  same  more  or  less,  which  deeds  are  duly  recorded 
at  the  registrar’s  office  in  said  Middletown,  and  have  been  by  us 
placed  in  the  hands  of  said#trustees  to  their  satisfaction.  And 
l'  Whereas , The  town  of  Middletown,  at  a meeting  duly  held  on 
the  24th  day  of  October,  A.D,  1866,  did  also  ‘resolve  that  this 
town  does  hereby  guarantee  to  the  ‘‘General  Hospital  for  the  Insane  v 
the  title  to  such  lands,  water  courses,  roads,  wharf  and  other  prop- 
erty located  or  pertaining  to  said  lands  for  the  said  institution.’ 

“ In  accordance  with  the  above  votes  and  instructions,  we,  the 
selectmen  of  the  town  of  Middletown,  in  order  to  make  the  con- 


492 


veyance  of  the  town  to  the  State  complete  and  satisfactory,  do  give 
our  official  pledge  in  behalf  of  said  town,  in  accordance  with  the 
will  of  its  citizens  so  unanimously  expressed,  and  do  hereby  guar- 
antee the  title  to  said  lands  and  water  courses  pertaining  to  said 
lands,  with  the  free  occupancy  of  the  town  wharf  at  Butler’s  creek, 
to  the  use  of  said  institution;  relying  upon  the  good  faith  of  the 
the  said  trustees  and  the  State  which  they  represent  to  fulfil  upon 
their  part  the  agreement  therewith. 


P.  Fagan, 

Alfred  Hubbald, 
Edwin  Scovill, 

A.  C.  Arnold, 


1 Selectmen  of  the 
y Town  of 
! Middletown. 


Middletown,  Middlesex  County,  Conn.,  Oct.  30,  1866. 


Besides  the  land  given  by  the  town  of  Middletown,  eighty 
acres  adjoining  were  purchased,  and  a building  site  in  every 
respect  admirable  was  thus  obtained.  From  time  to  time 
other  purchases  of  land  have  been  required  by  the  growth  of 
the  hospital,  until,  in  1893,  the  total  amounted  to  466  acres. 


Water  Supply. 


Reservoir 
.No.  1. 

Reservoir 
No.  2. 

Reservoir 
No.  3. 

Date  of  construction, 

1867. 

1879-82. 

1890-91. 

Distance  from  Hos- } 

6,500  feet. 

8,500  feet. 

8,000  feet. 

pital  by  pipe  line,  f 

Source  of  water, 

Butler’s  creek. 

Butler’s  creek. 

Silver  creek. 

Elevat’n  above  first ) 

floor  of  the  main  V 

.74  feet. 

175  feet. 

160  feet. 

hospitalbuilding,  ) 

25,000,000  gals. 

Capacity, 

18,000,000  gals. 

In  1867  connection  was  made  with  the  first  reservoir  by 
cast-iron  pipe,  six  inches  in  diameter.  In  1887  a companion 
water  main,  eight  inches  in  diameter,  was  laid,  and  so  com- 
bined with  the  former  that  both  at  the  same  time  or  either 
one  interchangeably  may  be  used. 


493 


BUILDINGS. 

After  the  site  was  chosen,  building  operations  progressed 
sufficiently  to  permit  the  corner-stone  of  the  hospital  to  be 
laid  June  20,  1867,  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a large  and  enthusiastic  assembly.  On  May-day, 
1868,  the  center  and  one  wing  of  the  main  building  were 
ready  for  the  accommodation  of  patients.  During  the  suc- 
ceeding six  years  the  other  three  wings  were  added  one  by 
one,  and  in  1874  the  hospital  was  considered  to  be  complete, 
having  beds  for  450  patients. 

This  massive  stone  structure,  four  stories  high,  was  built 
on  the  so-called  66  linear”  plan,  with  eight  wards  for  patients, 
on  each  side  of  the  central  portion,  in  which  were  the 
kitchens  and  offices.  Back  of  the  center  and  connected  by 
an  underground  tramway  were  the  laundry,  bakery,  sewing- 
room,  engine-room,  and  the  boilers.  Still  further  back  was 
the  44  annex,”  at  first  used  as  a joiners’  and  painters’  shop, 
although  erected  44  with  the  ulterior  view”  of  being  devoted 
to  the  isolation  of  insane  convicts.  — Superintendent' s Re - 
port , 1872. 

Already  the  utility  of  the  44  cottage  system  ” had  been 
demonstrated  by  lodging  certain  demented  patients  in  two 
old  dwelling-houses  left  standing  on  the  hospital  grounds. 
By  the  river,  a third  of  a mile  away,  was  the  hospital  dock 
and  near  it  the  coal-house.  A large  barn  and  a piggery  com- 
pleted the  list  of  structures  at  that  time.  The  total  ap- 
propriations for  land  and  construction,  1866-1876,  amounted 
to  $640,043. 

These  provisions  did  not  long  suffice,  for  in  their  report  to 
the  legislature  of  1877  44  as  the  trustees  do  not  deem  it 
desirable  to  enlarge  this  hospital  they  earnestly  urge  the 
importance  of  immediate  provision  for  the  erection  of  a new 
hospital and  to  the  legislature  of  1877  they  mention  the 
urgent  need  of  46  another  hospital  of  similar  grade,”  and  they 
44  earnestly  hope  that  the  State  of  Connecticut  will  made  ap- 
propriation for  a new  hospital.”  The  next  year  the  board 
repeated  this  advice,  as  the  hospital  was  overcrowded  and 


494 


insane  persons  were  obliged  to  wait  for  weeks  to  be  admitted 
or  else  be  cared  for  in  other  institutions. 

It  was  also  in  1879  that  a commission,  consisting  of  Gurdon 
W.  Russell,  M.D.,  Henry  W.  Buel,  M.D.,  and  Ephraim 
Williams,  Esq.,  appointed  by  the  Governor  to  investigate  the 
need  of  further  accommodations  for  the  insane  poor  of  the 
State  and  to  report  upon  the  location  and  plans  for  such 
hospital  buildings  if  needed,  reported  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly that  further  accommodations  were  necessary,  there  being 
about  four  hundred  insane  poor  for  whom  the  State  had 
made  no  hospital  provision,  and  they  recommended  erecting, 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  ' existing  hospital,  plain 
buildings  of  brick  containing  250  beds. 

“ The  buildings  which  we  suggest,  and  others  which  may 
be  necessary  in  future  years,  may  all  be  congregated  at 
Middletown,  and  administered  with  no  great  difficulty.  The 
plea  that  it  is  not  proper  to  bring  many  of  these  people 
together,  has  but  little  force  in  it,  when  we  remember  the 
large  number  in  some  hospitals  in  our  own  country  and  in 
many  in  Europe  ; and  notwithstanding  the  declarations 
which  have  been  made  against  this,  the  hospitals  recently 
built  have  been  designed  to  accommodate  more  patients 
than  formerly.  It  may  fairly  be  claimed  that  every  first- 
class  institution  should  have  connected  with  it  a supplemental 
building,  plainer  and  cheaper  than  its  principal  one,  for  the 
accommodation  of  its  harmless  insane.  For  these,  less 
spacious  and  less  guarded  rooms  are  needed,  and  fewer  at- 
tendants. If  this  seems  to  be  a new  departure,  it  is  one 
worthy  of  trial,  and  certainly  better  than  retaining  these 
people  in  almshouses,  in  towns,  or  among  indifferent,  dis- 
couraged, and  too  often  neglectful  relatives.” 

Nevertheless,  no  legislative  action  was  taken  until  the 
following  year,  when  it  was  resolved  by  the  General  As- 
sembly and  approved  by  the  Governor,  March  24,  1880, 
“ that  a committee  of  three  be  appointed  by  the  Governor, 
who  shall  cause  to  be  built  within  one  year,  additional 
buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the  insane,  adjacent  to 


495 


the  present  hospital  at  Middletown,  according  to  the  plans  and 
estimates  of  the  commission  presented  to  this  General 
Assembly  ; and  that  there  be  appropriated  from  any  moneys 
now  in  the  treasury  of  this  State  a sum  not  exceeding 
$130,000,  for  the  erection  and  furnishing  of  said  buildings  ; 
said  sum  to  be  subject  to  the  order  of  said  committee  to 
carry  out  the  provisions  of  this  resolution ; provided,  that  no 
part  of  this  appropriation  shall  be  expended  until  said  com- 
mittee have  made  a contract  with  responsible  parties  to 
fully  complete  said  buildings,  and  there  shall  not  be  drawn 
from  the  amount  appropriated,  at  any  time,  a sum  larger 
than  is  needed  to  pay  for  work  done  or  expenses  actually 
incurred;  and  all  expenses  of  every  name  and  nature  that 
may  be  incurred  shall  not  exceed  the  amount  hereby  ap- 
propriated. Said  committee  shall  make  report  to  the  next 
session  of  the  General  Assembly ; provided,  that  of  the  sum 
hereby  appropriated  not  less  than  $5,000  shall  be  reserved 
for  the  construction  of  suitable  buildings  or  apartments  upon 
the  grounds  of  said  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane, 
wherein  insane  convicts  shall  be  placed  and  cared  for  separ- 
ate from  the  other  inmates  of  said  Hospital.” 

In  accordance  with  this  act  the  Governor  appointed  as  a 
building  committee  Melancthon  Storrs,  M.D.,  Win.  J. 
Atwater,  and  Clias.  G.  R.  Vinal,  Esq.,  who  immediately 
entered  upon  their  duties.  It  was  agreed  with  the  board  of 
trustees  that  there  should  be  a common  bakery  and  laundry 
for  both  the  old  and  the  new  buildings,  and  the  sum  of 
$3,500  was  set  apart  from  the  total  appropriation  for  that 
purpose.  Under  the  direction  of  the  trustees  a suitable 
laundry  building  was  erected  and  the  space  formerly  oc- 
cupied by  the  laundry  was  ample  for  enlargement  of  the 
bakery. 

It  was  found  that  the  inclination  of  the  ground  at  the 
south  end  of  the  proposed  building  favored  the  construction 
of  a small  ward  in  the  basement,  and  the  required  separate 
apartments  for  insane  female  convicts  were  there  provided, 
the  trustees  having  already  devoted  the  “ annex  ” to  the  use 
of  male  convicts. 


496 


To  the  legislature  of  1881,  then,  the  committee  were  able 
to  report  satisfactory  progress,  and  July  20th  the  building, 
finished  and  furnished  with  two  hundred  and  sixty-two  beds 
for  patients,  at  an  expense  of  $130,000,  was  formally  trans- 
ferred by  the  committee  to  the  board  of  trustees.  This 
was  made  the  occasion  of  a memorial  gathering  of  many 
friends  of  the  hospital.  Among  their  honored  guests  the 
trustees  especially  noted  the  presence  of  the  venerable 
alienist,  Dr.  Pliny  Earle,  who  had  made  an  address  at  the 
laying  of  the  corner-stone  fourteen  years  previously  and 
now  took  this  opportunity  to  commend  the  advance  in  the 
work  of  the  institution. 

The  pressing  need  of  more  room  may  be  inferred  from  the 
fact  that  while  only  144  patients  could  be  received  in  1880, 
and  the  number  present  at  the  end  of  the  year  was  528,  in 
1881,  the  new  building  having  been  opened,  352  patients  were 
admitted  and  731  were  present  at  the  end  of  the  year.  It  is 
not  surprising,  therefore,  that  the  new  building  was  soon 
filled  to  excess  and  that  the  legislature  in  1884  and  1885 
made  appropriations  for  the  erection,  on  land  purchased  by 
special  appropriation  in  1882,  of  an  additional  building  “for 
the  care  of  the  insane  of  this  State,  and  particularly  to  fur- 
nish one  or  more  wards  for  the  better  classification  and 
accommodation  of  the  epileptic  insane.” 

This  building,  completed  early  in  1886  and  furnished  with 
300  beds,  stands  about  175  feet  south  of  the  building  erected 
in  1881,  both  fronting  westward  and  resembling  one  another 
in  the  essential  features  of  their  internal  arrangements.  Each 
is  of  brick,  three  stories  high  ; each  has  six  wards,  contain- 
ing fifty  beds,  more  or  less,  in  rooms  on  either  side  of  a long 
corridor,  broken  in  the  center  by  a bay  which  serves  as  a day- 
room  ; each  has  two  large  dining-rooms,  where  the  patients 
congregate  for  their  meals.  In  this  particular  these  two 
buildings  differ  markedly  from  the  old  main  building,  in 
which  every  ward  has  its  separate  dining-room  to  prevent  pa- 
tients recently  admitted  from  exerting  unfavorable  impres- 
sions upon  one  another.  Inasmuch  as  a certain  proportion 


497 


of  the  recent  admissions  are  acute  cases,  presenting  widely 
different  phases  of  insanity,  the  advantages  of  segregation 
are  obvious.  But  in  the  mass  of  chronic  cases,  where  fine 
classifications  are  needless,  congregate  dining-rooms  have 
been  found  to  facilitate  inspection  and  the  accurate  distribu- 
tion of  food  to  prevent  waste  and  to  diminish  the  cost  of 
support. 

The  total  number  of  patients  was  now  above  1,000,  and, 
although  the  price  of  board  had  been  reduced  to  $3.50  a week, 
the  revenue  began  to  exceed  the  cost  of  maintenance.  The 
resulting  surplus  of  cash  enabled  the  trustees  to  make  several 
improvements  rendered  necessary  by  the  growth  of  the  hos- 
pital. An  addition  to  the  annex  provided  a workshop 
for  convicts.  A reception-room  and  a medical  office  were 
added  to  the  middle  hospital.  A supplemental  water  main 
was  laid,  a greenhouse  and  bowling  alley  were  built ; a brick 
cottage  accommodating  70  patients,  chiefly  those  working  out 
of  doors,  permitted  an  unsightly  and  too-distant  frame  cottage 
to  be  vacated.  A horse-barn,  coal-houses,  an  ice-house,  and 
a cottage  for  employes  were  also  erected. 

Not  only  tacitly  did  the  legislature  approve  these  expendi- 
tures, but  in  1889,  the  hospital  then  having  1,300  patients,  it 
was  resolved  by  the  General  Assembly  that  the  board  of 
trustees  be  authorized  and  instructed  to  expend  from  the  funds 
of  the  hospital  an  amount  necessary  to  erect  a building  fur- 
nishing accommodations  for  at  least  120  persons.  By  an 
addition  to  each  wing  of  the  south  hospital,  and  by  the  com- 
pletion of  the  unpretentious  but  very  comfortable  and  con- 
venient cottage,  of  which  one-third  was  built  the  year  before, 
150  patients  were  accommodated. 

Other  items  of  construction  followed,  of  which  the  most 
costly  was  an  assembly-room  seating  over  600  persons,  the 
original  chapel  and  amusement  hall  being  no  longer  ade- 
quate. This  new  room,  directly  in  the  rear  of  and  on  the 
level  of  the  second  floor  of  the  main  hospital,  was  appropri- 
ately located  with  special  reference  to  the  benefit  of  curable 
patients,  who  can  reach  it  by  means  of  covered  bridges  with- 
32 


498 


out  risk  of  escape  or  exposure  to  the  inclemencies  of  the 
weather. 

As  the  number  of  patients  again  exceeded  the  capacity  of 
the  institution,  and  a disposition  to  enlarge  it  still  further  was 
manifested  in  the  legislature,  it  was  voted  at  a special  meet- 
ing of  the  board  of  trustees,  April,  1889, that  “in  the  opinion 
of  this  board  the  economic  and  humane  interests  of  the  State 
require  that  additional  accommodations  for  its  insane  be  pro- 
vided in  some  other  locality.” 

Influenced,  doubtless,  by  this  advice,  the  General  Assembly 
of  1889  resolved  that  “ a committee  of  three  persons  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor  to  inquire  and  report  to  the  next 
session  of  the  General  Assembly  concerning  the  expediency 
and  practicability  of  providing  further  accommodations  for 
the  insane  at  Middletown  or  elsewhere  in  the  State.”  On 
this  committee  the  Governor  appointed  the  Hon.  Lyman  S. 
Catlin,  George  E.  Markham,  M.D.,  and  Stephen  A.  Gardner. 

The  lamented  death  of  Dr.  Markham  early  deprived  the 
committee  of  his  aid,  but  the  other  members  carefully  inves- 
tigated the  condition  of  affairs  and  reported  to  the  General 
Assembly,  January,  1891,  that  in  their  opinion  this  institutien 
should  not  be  again  enlarged,  but  should  be  relieved  as  soon 
as  possible  of  many  of  its  apparently  hopeless  chronic  cases  by 
the  erection  of  an  asylum  for  the  humane  care  of  such  cases, 
in  order  that  the  hospital  at  Middletown  might  always  have 
room  for  the  prompt  admission  of  acute  cases  of  insanity. 
The  increase  in  population  being  apparently  greater  in  the 
southwestern  portion  of  the  State  than  elsewhere,  the  com- 
mittee advised  that  the  proposed  asylum  be  located  in  Fair- 
field  county. 

Action  on  this  report  was  postponed  until  1893,  when  the 
General  Assembly  resolved  “ that  a building  committee  of 
five  members,  three  of  whom  shall  be  elected  by  the  trustees 
of  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  and  two  of  whom 
shall  be  elected  by  the  Senate,  be  and  are  hereby  authorized 
and  directed  to  cause  the  erection  in  the  town  of  Middletown 
of  a suitable  building  sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  250 
insane  persons  of  the  class  known  as  incurable  insane. 


499 


“ Said  committee  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  ex- 
pend for  said  purpose  such  a sum  of  the  moneys  now  held  by 
said  trustees  of  said  hospital,  not  to  exceed  $70,000,  as  shall 
be  necessary. 

“ A further  sum  of  $30,000,  or  so  much  thereof  as  shall  be 
necessary,  is  hereby  appropriated  from  the  State  treasury  to 
furnish  and  complete  said  building.” 

This  act  having  been  approved  June  30,  1893,  the  Senate 
elected  the  Hon.  Seth  J.  Hall  and  Matthew  T.  Newton,  M.D., 
and  the  trustees  elected  from  their  number  Messrs.  Henry 
Woodward,  Andrew  C.  Smith,  and  Samuel  Russell  to  be 
members  of  the  building  committee. 

Already  the  trustees,  finding  the  water  supply  insufficient 
in  the  time  of  drought,  had  availed  themselves  of  the  privi- 
leges guaranteed  to  them  by  the  town  of  Middletown  (“the 
full  and  complete  use  and  enjoyment  of  the  water  of  Butler’s 
creek  and  Silver  creek”)  by  purchasing  the  requisite  land 
and  constructing  a reservoir  on  Silver  creek  of  larger  capacity 
than  both  the  reservoirs  previously  located  on  Butler’s  creek, 
so  there  was  no  question  about  a source  of  water  ample  for 
the  population  to  be  added.  Fortunately,  too,  at  this  time  a 
farm  extending  from  the  northern  limit  of  the  hospital  grounds 
to  the  Connecticut  river  was  for  sale,  and  its  purchase  pro- 
vided a most  admirable  site  for  the  future  buildings. 

APPROPRIATIONS  BY  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  FOR  LANDS  AND  BUILDINGS. 


Dates. 

Amounts. 

Purpose  of  the  Appropriations. 

1866 

$35,000.00 

To  establish  a Hospital  for  the  Insane. 

1867 

150,000.00 

For  the  needful  expenditures  of  the  General  State 
Hospital  for  the  Insane. 

1868 

200,000.00 

For  the  needful  expenditures  of  the  General  State 
Hospital  for  the  Insane. 

1869 

35,543.00 

For  th£  needful  expenditures  of  the  General  Hos- 
pital for  the  Insane. 

1871 

90,000.00 

For  one  additional  wing  to  the  General  Hospital 
for  the  Insane. 

1872 

90,000.00 

For  one  additional  wing  to  the  General  Hospital 
for  the  Insane. 

1872 

39,500.00 

In  favor  of  the  trustees  of  the  General  Hospital 
for  the  Insane. 

1880 

130,000.00 

For  building  an  addition  to  the  Insane  Asylum  at 
Middletown. 

500 


Dates. 

1881 

Amounts. 

$10,000.00 

Purpose  of  the  Appropriation. 

For  barns,  workshop,  laundry  apparatus, 

and 

fire 

1882 

1884 

8,000.00 

75,000.00 

protection. 

For  the  purchase  of  land  for  buildings. 
For  additional  buildings  for*  the  care 

of 

the 

1885 

50,000.00 

insane. 

For  additional  buildings  for  the  care 

of 

the 

1893 

30,000.00 

insane. 

For  the  completion  of  a building  accommodating 

Total, 

$943,043.00 

250  patients. 

ADDITIONAL  CONSTRUCTION  NOT  COVERED  BY  APPROPRIATIONS. 


Dates. 

Amounts. 

Purpose  of  the  Expenditures. 

1878 

$2,524.71 

Storehouse. 

2,307.27 

Amusement  hall. 

9,487.96 

Altering  annex  for  patients. 

1880 

1,664.55 

Cottage  for  engineer. 

3,234.80 

Horse  barn. 

2,820.82 

Reservoir  No.  2. 

1883 

5,517.00 

Coal-house  and  hoisting  apparatus. 

2,284.83 

Piggery. 

1884 

22,233.80 

Additional  wing  on  main  hospital. 

970.65 

Cold  storage. 

1,136.88 

Addition  to  middle  hospital. 

1885 

1,337.69 

Addition  to  laundry. 

4,361.45 

Carpenter’s  shop. 

10,855.00 

Superintendent’s  cottage. 

1886 

4,463.10 

Addition  to  annex. 

1,546.54 

Addition  to  middle  hospital. 

1887 

4,391.00 

Eight-inch  water  main. 

7,124.61 

Greenhouse  and  bowling  alley. 

1888 

16,627.86 

South  wing  of  main  cottage. 

7,526.52 

Barn  for  farm  horses. 

1,614.00 

Elevator. 

2,302.89 

Ice-house. 

2,211.90 

Coal-houses. 

4,382.96 

Cottage  for  employes. 

1889 

18,000.00 

Addition  to  south  hospital. 

1890 

32,093.45 

Completion  of  main  cottage. 

7,518.78 

Alteration  of  heating  system,  main  hospital. 

2,874.37 

Slaughter  house. 

1,588.24 

Iron  balcony,  main  hospital. 

1,846.53 

Addition  to  middle  hospital. 

1,080.66 

Addition  to  cold  storage. 

1,777.00 

Land  for  reservoir. 

8,539.54 

Reservoir  No.  3. 

501 


Dates. 

Amounts. 

Purpose  of  the  Expenditures. 

1891 

$1,575.60 

Connection  of  reservoir  with  8-inch  main. 

4,441.67 

Addition  to  laundry. 

23,698.40 

Assembly  room. 

1892 

1,077.55 

Addition  to  store. 

2,789.00 

Ice-house. 

2,328.48 

Piggery. 

2,016.66 

Extension  of  sewage  irrigation. 

1893 

3,004.08 

Night  attendants’  cottage. 

70,000.00 

Expended  by*act  of  the  General  Assembly  in  mak- 
ing accommodations  for  250  patients. 

Total, 

$309,178.82 

COMMITMENT  OF  PATIENTS. 

As 

early  as  1867  an  act  was  passed,  which  with  certain 

modifications,  has  continued  in  force  during  all  these  years, 
appearing  now  as  Section  487  of  the  General  Statutes,  and 
has  provided  for  the  commitment  and  maintenance  of  more 
than  88  per  cent,  of  all  the  patients  admitted.  As  at  present, 
the  act  originally  contemplated  two  classes  of  indigent 
patients,  those  who  are  paupers  and  those  who  are  not.  And 
it  provided  that  when  a pauper  in  any  town  may  be  insane, 
a selectman  of  such  town  shall  apply  to  the  judge  of  probate 
of  the  district  wherein  said  pauper  resides,  for  his  admission 
to  the  hospital,  and  that  the  judge  on  receiving  a certificate 
from  a respectable  physician  that  said  pauper  is  insane,  shall 
issue  an  order  requiring  the  selectman  to  take  such  insane 
pauper  to  the  hospital,  where  he  shall  be  kept  and  supported 
as  long  as  may  be  requisite.  It  also  provided  that  “ when  a 
person  in  indigent  circumstances,  not  a pauper,  becomes 
insane,  application  may  be  made  in  his  behalf  to  the  judge 
of  probate  for  the  district  wherein  he  resides, ” who  after  due 
investigation,  including  an  examination  by  a respectable 
physician,  if  satisfied  that  such  person  is  in  indigent  circum- 
stances* and  insane,  shall  issue  an  order  of  commitment  to 
the  hospital,  where  he  shall  be  kept  and  supported  as  long  as 
may  be  requisite,  half  of  the  expense  of  his  support  to  be  paid 
by  the  State  and  the  other  half  by  the  person  making  appli- 
cation for  the  patient’s  commitment.  The  original  act 
specified  that  the  person  making  application  for  the  commit- 


502 


ment  be  directed  by  the  judge  to  take  the  patient  to  the 
hospital.  The  present  law  adds  a clause  leaving  it  optional 
with  the  judge  to  appoint  some  other  escort,  but  the  respon- 
sibility of  providing  a companion  for  the  insane  person  on  the 
journey  is  distinctly  laid  on  the  court.  The  principal  point 
of  difference  between  the  original  and  the  present  law  is  that 
at  first  it  was  provided  that  half  the  expense  of  a pauper’s 
support  “ be  defrayed  by  the  to“wn  wherein  said  pauper  resides 
and  the  other  half  by  the  State  ; ” but  since  1878  the  law  has 
been  “ that  $2.50  per  week  of  the  expense  of  his  support 
shall  be  paid  by  the  town  legally  chargeable  with  his  support 
and  the  balance  by  the  State.”  Inasmuch  as  the  price  of 
board  has  been  considerably  reduced,  this  throws  upon  the 
towns  a greater  expense  than  would  have  been  the  case  if  the 
original  act  had  continued  in  force.  Moreover,  the  present 
law,  unlike  the  original,  enables  a selectman  who  has  applied 
for  a pauper’s  commitment  to  evade  paying  his  board  on  the 
plea  that  some  other  town  is  legally  chargeable  with  that 
expense,  and  the  hospital  may  even  be  put  to  the  loss  and 
trouble  of  ascertaining  by  a lawsuit  what  town  is  legally 
chargeable. 

For  the  commitment  of  insane  criminals  to  the  hospital 
the  provisions  of  the  law  are  ample.  The  year  after  the  hos- 
pital was  opened,  it  was  resolved  by  the  General  Assembly 
(Private  Acts,  1869,  Chap.  CLIX,)  that  the  trustees  of  the  hos- 
pital be  “ required  and  directed  to  make  suitable  provision 
for  the  reception  of  insane  convicts  into  the  institution  under 
their  care  and  direction  ; ” and  it  was  enacted  that  the  Gov- 
ernor, on  receiving  a report  from  the  warden  of  the  prison 
that  any  convict  is  insane,  shall  appoint  not  more  than  three 
physicians  to  examine  such  person,  and  upon  their  certificate 
of  insanity  the  Governor  shall  order  his  transfer  to  the  hos- 
pital. If  the  convict  recovers  before  his  term  of  sentence 
expires,  similar  proceedings  result  in  his  return  to  prison. 
If  he  is  still  insane  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  imprison- 
ment, the  Governor  is  authorized  to  order  a further  detention 


503 


of  the  convict  in  the  hospital  until  he  shall  have  recovered. 

— General  Statutes , Sec.  3617-3621. 

If  any  person  serving  sentence  in  a county  jail  appears  to 
be  insane,  proceedings  similar  to  those  in  regard  to  convicts 
in  the  State  prison  may  be  instituted  for  his  transfer  to  the 
hospital,  or  the  county  commissioners  may  appoint  “ some 
reputable  physician  to  make  an  examination  of  such 
prisoner,  and  if  such  physician  shall  be  of  the  opinion  that 
such  prisoner  is  insane,’  and  shall  so  certify  to  the  commis- 
sioners, they  may  cause  the  prisoner’s  removal  from  the  jail 
to  the  hospital. — Gceneral  Statutes , Sec.  3385,  3386,  and 
Public  Acts , 1893,  Chap.  XLYI. 

When  any  person  committed  for  trial  to  a county  jail  shall 
in  the  interim  appear  to  be  insane,  a judge  of  the  Superior 
Court  on  application  of  the  county  sheriff  may  appoint 
u three  reputable  physicians,”  upon  whose  certificate  of  in- 
sanity the  judge  may  order  the  person  to  be  transferred  from 
the  jail  to  the  hospital  for  treatment  until  the  time  of  trial. 

— General  Statutes , Sec.  1600. 

“ Any  Superior  Court,  City  Court,  or  Police  Court  in  this 
State,  before  which  any  person  shall  be  tried  on  any  criminal 
charge  and  acquitted  on  the  ground  of  insanity  or  dementia, 
may  order  such  person  to  be  confined  in  the  Connecticut 
Hospital  for  the  Insane  for  such  time  as  such  court  shall 
direct,”  and  any  such  person  may  subsequently  petition,  or 
the  officers  of  such  institution  may  petition,  the  Superior  Court 
of  the  county  in  which  he  is  confined  for  his  enlargement. 
But  if  at  the  expiration  of  any  specific  term  for  which  the 
court  may  have  ordered  him  to  be  confined,  the  person  shall 
still  be  insane,  the  superintendent  of  the  hospital  shall  certify 
this  fact  to  the  State’s  attorney  for  the  county  wherein  the 
trial  was  had,  to  the  end  that  an  order  of  the  court  may  be 
procured,  authorizing  the  continued  detention  of  the  person 
in  the  hospital  until  recovered  from  his  insanity. — General 
Statutes , Sec.  1601-1603. 

The  next  two  following  provisions  appear  to  have  been 
made  with  special  reference  to  the  commitment  of  non- 


504 


resident  persons : 46  On  a written  complaint,  made  to  any 

judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  that  a person  named  therein 
is  insane  and  unfit  to  go  at  large,  such  judge  shall  imme- 
diately appoint  a committee  consisting  of  a physician  and  two 
other  persons,  one  of  whom  shall  be  an  attorney-at-law,  judge, 
or  justice  of  the  peace,  who,  after  such  person  has  been  noti- 
fied according  to  the  order  of  such  judge  of  the  Superior 
Court,  shall  inquire  into  such  complaint  and  report  to  him 
the  facts  of  the  case  and  their  opinions  thereon  ; and  if,  in 
their  opinion,  such  person  should  be  confined,  such  judge 
shall  issue  an  order  therefor.” — General  Statutes , Sec.  3683. 

44  Any  insane  pauper,  not  a resident  of  any  town  in  this 
State,  may  be  committed  by  the  Governor  to  any  suitable 
place  of  detention,  upon  the  presentation  of  a certificate 
signed  by  a reputable  physician  that  he  has  found  upon  ex- 
amination that  such  pauper  is  insane,  which  certificate  shall 
be  sworn  to  before  some  officer  authorized  to  administer 
oaths.  The  support  of  paupers  committed  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  shall  be  paid  by  the  State,  the  same  not 
to  exceed  $3.01)  a week  for  each  person  so  committed. — Pub - 
lie  Acts , 1893,  Chap.  241. 

44  All  honorably  discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines, 
who  served  in  the  Union  army  or  navy  in  the  late  civil  war, 
in  the  Connecticut  regiments  or  navy  quota  from  this  State, 
and  all  such  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  who  served  in  said 
war  in  the  regiments  or  navy  quota  from  any  other  State, 
who  at  the  time  of  enlistment  therein  were  residents  of  this 
State,  and  are  such  residents  when  applying  for  such  aid,” 
if  insane,  are  entitled  to  receive  such  medical  care  as  may  be 
necessary  in  the  hospital  at  the  expense  of  the  State,  on 
order  of  the  soldiers’  hospital  board.  — General  Statutes , 
Sec.  3762. 

For  twenty  years  private  patients  were  44  put  in  any  suit- 
able place  of  detention  on  the  presentation  of  a certificate 
made  within  thirty  days,  signed  by  some  reputable  physician, 
that  he  has  made  a personal  examination  of  such  person 
within  one  week  prior  to  the  date  thereof,  and  that  such 


505 


person  is  insane,  which  certificate  shall  be  sworn  to  before 
some  officer  authorized  to  administer  oaths  in  the  State 
where  it  is  given,  who  shall  certify  to  the  genuineness  of  the 
signature  thereto,  and  the  respectability  of  the  signer ; and 
any  such  person  may  be  removed  by  the  person  placing  him 
in  such  place  of  detention.”  — G-eneral  Statutes , Sec . 3682. 

Finally  it  was  enacted  that  “ except  when  otherwise  spe- 
cially provided  by  law,  no  person  shall  be  committed  or 
admitted  to  an  asylum  without  an  order  signed  by  a judge  of 
probate,”  based  upon  a written  complaint  that  the  person 
complained  of  is  insane  and  fit  to  be  confined  in  an  asylum. 
The  judge  shall  appoint  a time  not  later  than  ten  days  after 
receipt  of  such  complaint,  for  a hearing,  at  which  shall  be 
filed  a certificate  of  insanity  signed  by  two  physicians,  and  if 
satisfied  that  the  person  complained  of  is  insane,  the  judge 
shall  order  him  to  be  taken  by  some  proper  officer  or  any  fit 
person  to  a designated  asylum  or  other  suitable  place  of  de 
tention.  — Public  Acts , 1889,  Chap . CLXII , Sec.  3-6. 

Since  1889,  private  patients  have  been  committed  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

This  act  also  affirms  the  right  of  persons  confined  in  in- 
sane asylums  to  the  benefits  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus, 
and  since  1869  the  following  statute  has  existed  for  their 
protection  : “Any  judge  of  the  superior  court,  on  information 
to  him  that  any  person  is  unjustly  deprived  of  his  liberty  by 
being  detained  or  confined  in  an  insane  asylum,  or  in  any 
place  for  the  detention  or  confinement  of  the  insane,  or  in 
any  inebriate  hospital  in  this  State,  or  in  the  custody  and 
control  of  any  individual  under  an  order  of  a court  of  pro- 
bate, may  appoint  a commission  of  not  less  than  two  persons, 
who,  at  a time  and  place  appointed  by  them,  shall  hear  such 
evidence  as  shall  be  offered  touching  the  case ; said  commis- 
sion need  not  summon  the  party  claimed  to  be  unjustly  con- 
fined before  them,  but  shall  have  one  or  more  private  inter- 
views with  him,  and  shall  also  make  due  inquiries  of  the 
physicians  and  other  persons  having  charge  of  such  place  of 
detention  or  confinement,  and  within  a reasonable  time 


506 


thereafter,  report  to  said  judge  the  facts,  and  their  opinion 
thereon  ; and  if  in  their  opinion  the  party  is  not  legally  de- 
tained or  confined  in  such  place,  or  is  cured,  or  his  confine- 
ment is  no  longer  beneficial  or  advisable,  said  judge  shall 
order  his  discharge ; but  no  commission  shall  be  appointed 
with  reference  to  the  same  person  oftener  than  once  in  six 
months.  The  judge  before  whom  any  of  the  proceedings 
provided  for  in  this  section  are  had  may  tax  reasonable  costs 
at  his  discretion.”  — General  Statutes , Sec . 3692. 

REVENUE  OF  THE  HOSPITAL. 

From  the  outset  the  law  provided  that  “ the  price  to  be 
paid  for  keeping  any  person  in  indigent  circumstances  or 
any  pauper,  shall  be  fixed  by  the  trustees,”  and  that  “ the 
trustees  may  authorize  the  superintendent  to  admit  under 
special  agreements  whenever  there  are  vacancies  in  the  hos- 
pital, such  cases  as  may  seek  admission.”  — Public  Acts , 
1867,  Chap . C1I , Secs.  5 and  6. 

Of  the  latter  class  only  260  persons  have  been  admitted 
from  the  opening  of  the  hospital  to  July  1, 1893,  and  all  other 
patients,  numbering  6,155,  have  come  under  the  pauper  or 
the  indigent  class.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  nearly  all 
the  revenue  of  the  hospital  must  have  consisted  of  receipts 
for  the  care  of  these  beneficiaries.  During  the  first  year, 
1868-9,  the  price  of  board  was  $4.50  a week  for  each  pauper 
and  indigent  patient,  but  this  appeared  insufficient.  Accord- 
ingly it  was  fixed  at  $5  a week,  and  so  continued  until  1877. 
Subsequent  changes  have  been  as  follows  : 

Weekly  price  of  board,  $4.00  from  Dec.  1,  1877,  to  Dec.  1,  1888. 

Weekly  price  of  board,  3.75  from  Dec.  1,  1883,  to  Apr.  1,  1885. 

Weekly  price  of  board,  3.50  from  Apr.  1,  1885,  to  Nov.  1,  1888. 

Weekly  price  of  board,  3.20  from  Nov.  1,  1888,  to  Apr.  1,  1892. 

Weekly  price  of  board,  3.00  from  Apr.  1,  1892,  to  Apr.  1,  1893. 

Weekly  price  of  board,  2.80  from  Apr.  1,  1893. 

On  this  basis  the  entire  cost  of  maintenance,  including 
pay-roll  and  repairs,  has  been  provided  for. 

In  July,  1887,  interest  at  3 per  cent,  was  obtained  by  the 


507 


trustees  on  the  balance  in  bank,  and  since  then  this  has  been 
an  item  in  the  revenue  of  the  hospital. 

By  vote  of  the  trustees,  clothing  has  been  furnished  to  all 
pauper  patients  without  charge  since  January  1,  1892. 

In  this  connection  may  be  mentioned  certain  bequests  to 
the  hospital. 

First , the  Atwater  fund,  created  by  the  following  clause  in 
the  will  of  the  late  George  Atwater  of  the  town  of  Hamden, 
dated  October  2,  1867  : 

“I  direct  and  require  that  the  said  assistant  trustees  of  my 
estate  shall  within  two  years  after  the  death  of  my  said  wife 
Maria,  if  she  shall  survive  my  said  daughter  Eunice,  or  within  two 
years  after  the  death  of  my  said  daughter  Eunice,  if  she  shall  sur- 
vive her  mother,  convey  to  the  persons  who  at  that  time  shall  con- 
stitute the  board  of  trustees  of  ‘The  General  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,’  located  in  Middletown,  to  them 
and  their  successors  in  office,  all  the  remainder  of  my  estate,  both 
real  and  personal,  to  have  and  to  hold  the  same  in  trust  for  the 
uses,  intents,  and  purposes  hereinafter  mentioned  and  declared 
concerning  the  same,  viz. : 

“The  said  trustees  of  the  General  Hospital  for  the  Insane  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut  shall  reserve  the  whole  amount  received  from 
my  estate  as  a separate  fund  (to  be  known  as  the  Atwater  fund) 
for  the  benefit  of  the  insane  poor  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and 
shall  have  the  right  to  appropriate  and  expend  the  annual  income 
of  the  fund  for  the  support  of  indigent  insane  persons,  giving 
preference  to  indigent  insane  persons,  if  any  such  there  may  be, 
belonging  to  and  having  legal  residence  in  my  native  town  of 
Hamden  ; but  the  said  trustees  shall  not  appropriate  or  expend 
the  principal  of  the  fund.” 

This  trust  fund  was  accepted  by  a vote  of  the  trustees  of 
the  hospital,  January  14,  1886. 

Second , the  Sargent  fund,  created  by  the  following  clause 
in  the  will  of  George  D.  Sargent  of  Hartford : “ I give,  de- 
vise, and  bequeath  to  the  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the 
Insane,  located  at  Middletown,  Connecticut,  the  sum  of 
$1,000,  in  trust  as  follows  : The  annual  income  thereof  to  be 


508 


expended  for  the  support  and  comfort  of  Caroline  B.  Ster- 
ling, during  her  life,  and  at  her  death  the  principal  of  said 
sum  to  belong  to  said  hospital  to  be  disposed  of  as  they 
see  fit.” 

Mr.  Sargent  died  in  1886,  and  in  June,  1887,  the  sum  of 
$1,000  was  received  from  the  executor  of  his  estate.  It  was 
placed  at  interest  under  the  direction  of  the  trustees,  and 
the  income  set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  beneficiary,  who  is 
still  living. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

For  the  management  of  the  hospital,  Sec.  7,  Chap.  CII,  of 
Public  Acts,  1867,  provides  that  “ the  trustees  are  hereby 
authorized  and  empowered  to  make  and  establish  such  by- 
laws as  they  may  deem  necessary  and  expedient  for  regu- 
lating the  appointment  and  compensation  of  officers,  attend- 
ants, and  assistants,  and  for  conducting  in  a proper  manner 
the  affairs  and  business  of  the  institution ; to  ordain  and 
enforce  a suitable  system  of  rules  and  regulations  for  the 
internal  government,  discipline,  and  management  of  the  hos- 
pital.” 

Accordingly,  the  board  of  trustees  adopted  certain  by-laws 
and  regulations  and  revised  them  in  1887,  designating  the 
duties  of  the  persons  employed  in  the  hospital,  viz. : 

1.  The  superintendent,  who  is  required  to  exercise  “ en- 
tire official  control  over  all  subordinate  officers,”  and  over 
the  treatment  of  all  patients  ; to  conduct  the  correspondence* 
and  to  see  that  due  care  is  taken  of  all  hospital  property. 

2.  The  assistant  physicians,  each  of  whom  has  under  his 
special  care  a certain  number  of  patients  for  individual  study 
and  treatment. 

3.  The  clerk,  who  keeps  all  the  accounts  of  the  hospital, 
except  those  in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer,  and  purchases  the 
groceries,  provisions,  and  supplies  for  the  institution. 

4.  The  farmer,  who  has  charge  of  the  agricultural  opera- 
tions, the  butchering,  preservation,  and  distribution  of  meats 
and  the  delivery  of  freight. 

5.  The  matron,  who  has  charge  of  all  work  done  in  the 
laundry  and  the  sewing-rooms. 


509 


6.  The  housekeepers,  who  have  charge  of  the  ordinary 
domestic  matters  in  their  respective  households  and  attend 
particularly  to  the  preparation  of  food  for  the  patients. 

7.  The  supervisors,  who  have  the  immediate  direction  of 
the  ward  attendants  and  instruct  them  in  their  duties,  such 
as  the  management  of  patients,  the  nursing  of  the  sick,  the 
prevention  of  escapes,  the  care  of  patients’  clothing  and  the 
cleanliness  of  the  wards. 

8.  The  storekeeper,  who,  under  the  instruction  of  the 
clerk,  takes  care  of  the  stock  in  store  and  issues  supplies  on 
requisition  of  housekeepers,  supervisors,  and  others,  keeping 
due  account  of  the  same. 

9.  The  mechanics,  comprising  the  engineer,  who  has 
charge  of  the  heating  apparatus,  plumbing,  and  gas-piping, 
the  joiners,  masons,  and  painters,  all  of  whom  are  needed  to 
keep  the  property  in  repair. 

The  list  of  resident  officers  associated  with  the  superin- 
tendent and  on  his  recommendation  appointed  by  the  board 
of  trustees,  is  as  follows,  the  names  of  those  serving  in  such 
capacity  in  1893  being  printed  in  italics : 

Assistant  Physicians  — Drs.  Winthrop  B.  Hallock,  Calvin  S.  May,  James 
Olmstead,  Henry  S.  Noble , William  E.  Fisher , Charles  E.  Stanley , James 
M.  Keniston , Edwin  A.  Down,  Arthur  B.  Coleburn,  A.  Josephine  Sher- 
man, Mary  Harley . 

Clerks  {Stewards  until  1873)  — Charles  W.  Galpin,  J.  Delos  Atherton, 
Frank  B.  Weeks,  John  W.  Thayer,  Thomas  M.  Durfee. 

Farmers — Clinton  W.  Weatherbee,  Pliny  W.  Sanderson. 

Matrons  — Mrs.  Mary  Hallock,  Mrs.  Margaret  Dutton. 

If  asked  what  the  trustees,  using  the  forces  at  their  com- 
mand, have  done  for  the  insane  poor  in  these  twenty-five 
years,  those  who  recollect  the  irregular  ridge  of  farming  land 
on  which  the  hospital  has  been  built,  might  first  point  to  the 
pleasing  contrast  of  beautiful  lawns  with  bright  flower  beds 
and  spacious  play-grounds,  fringed  by  abundant  shade  trees 
and  dotted  with  buildings.  Besides  the  original  hospital, 
there  are  now  eight  other  separate  structures,  varying  in 
capacity  from  twenty  to  three  hundred  beds  for  the  use  of 
diverse  classes  of  patients,  who  are  thus  kept  in  distinct 


510 


groups  apart  from  one  another  with  evident  benefit.  Vari- 
eties of  occupation  for  patients,  at  first  few,  have  increased 
year  by  year.  Music,  once  limited  to  the  piano,  has  been 
cultivated  until  an  orchestra  and  a band  have  become  ordinary 
sources  of  entertainment.  So,  too,  as  usually  in  a home,  have 
the  indoor  comforts,  such  as  furniture,  books,  and  pictures 
received  additions  by  purchases  and  by  the  thoughtful  gener- 
osity of  many  friends.  Among  numerous  donations,  conspic- 
uous in  value  and  in  the  gratification  afforded  all  the  time,  is 
the  chime  of  bells,  given  by  one  of  the  senior  trustees,  which 
musically  intones  the  passage  of  each  quarter-hour. 

Furthermore,  it  may  be  said  that  during  its  first  quarter 
century,  approximately  6,400  fellow  creatures,  unable  to  take 
care  of  themselves,  or  perhaps  dangerous  to  the  public,  have 
been  comfortably  lodged,  fed,  and  given  such  medical  treat- 
ment as  they  needed,  in  the  State’s  hospital ; that  under  this 
treatment  1,300  patients  have  recovered  their  reason,  and  at 
least  as  many  more,  removed  on  probation,  have  been  found 
sufficiently  improved  to  remain  away  from  the  hospital;  that 
for  1,400  patients,  whose  infirmities  caused  their  earthly  lives 
to  be  ended  here,  the  burden  of  disease  has  been  lightened  by 
the  ministrations  of  the  physicians  and  nurses  in  the  hospital ; 
and  that  some  progress  has  been  made  every  year  in  the 
means  of  contributing  to  the  contentment  and  happiness  of 
the  large  number  compelled  by  mental  derangement  to  make 
the  hospital  their  home. 

And  so,  as  there  is  always  room  for  improvement,  efforts 
to  make  things  better  must  needs  ever  be  continued,  even 
redoubled,  since  the  institution  has  been  enlarged  far  beyond 
the  limit  originally  contemplated  or  recommended.  Grant- 
ing that  the  ideal  hospital  may  contain  not  more  than  four 
hundred  beds,  it  might  be  said  that  here  are  four  such 
hospitals,  absolutely  distinct  from  one  another  and  yet  united 
in  a single  community.  And  along  with  the  growth  from  a 
comparatively  simple  to  a more  complex  organization,  there 
has  been  a natural  development  of  methods  of  management 
which,  it  cannot  be  doubted,  will  be  further  moulded  to  fit 
the  requirements  of  the  future. 


MESSAGE  OF  THE  GOVERNOR 


AND 

REPORT 

OF  THE 

COMMISSION  ON  THE  ADMINISTRATION 


State  Charities 

AND 

ON  FURTHER  PROVISION  FOR  SUPPORT  OF 

ISSAM  POOB. 


Made  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut , 
January  26 , 1877. 


SPECIAL  MESSAGE  OF  THE  GOVERNOR 


TRANSMITTING  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  A REPORT  OF 
THE  COMMISSION  ON  STATE  CHARITIES  AND 
INSANE  POOR. 


State  of  Connecticut,  Executive  Department, 
Hartford,  February  1,  1877. 

To  the  General  Assembly : 

Acting  under  a resolution  of  the  last  Assembly,  my  prede- 
cessor, on  the  fifteenth  day  of  November  last,  appointed  a 
commission  to  examine  into  and  report  upon  the  administra- 
tion of  our  public  charities,  and  the  legal  provisions  made 
for  their  regulation  and  support. 

The  members  of  this  commission  have  given  the  subject  a 
very  careful  and  painstaking  examination,  and  I have  the 
honor  to  submit  herewith  their  report.  It  is  a paper  which 
evinces  not  only  careful  investigation  and  critical  judgment, 
but  the  finest  spirit  of  charity,  and  justifies  the  wisdom  of 
my  predecessor  in  selecting  the  commission.  I commend 
the  report  to  the  consideration  of  the  General  Assembly, 
and  urge  attention  to  its  statements  and  conclusions. 

If  I mistake  not,  you  will  find  that  there  is  great  necessity 
for  retrenchment  in  the  administration  of  some  of  our  exist- 
ing charities,  and  great  necessity  for  enlarging  the  scope  of 
others.  There  are  two  to  which,  for  special  reasons,  I wish 
to  invite  your  special  attention. 

DISCHARGED  SOLDIERS  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 

My  official  observation,  no  less  than  the  report  which  I 
herewith  transmit,  has  convinced  me  that  the  charitable  pro- 
visions of  the  State  for  the  relief  of  discharged  soldiers  of 
the  late  war  have  run  into  the  most  serious  extravagance  and 
33 


514 


abuse.  The  laws  regulating  this  charity  are  disjointed  and 
ambiguous,  and  urgently  demand  revision.  As  heretofore 
construed,  they  have,  to  a very  considerable  extent,  converted 
the  hospitals  at  Hartford  and  New  Haven  into  mere  chapels 
of  ease  for  discharged  soldiers  who  are  able  to  earn  a living, 
but  are  too  improvident  or  indolent  to  do  it,  and  in  some  cases 
for  mere  impostors.  These  abuses  and  the  rapid  increase  of 
expenditures  for  this  charity  had  attracted  my  attention 
some  time  since,  and  individual  members  of  the  legislature 
have  kindly  allowed  me  to  turn  their  attention  to  the  subject. 
With  the  strongest  disposition  to  correct  the  abuse  and  check 
the  expenditure,  I have  found  myself  without  adequate 
means  to  do  so. 

Some  additional  legislation  defining  more  accurately  the 
scope  of  this  charity,  and  guarding  its  administration  either 
as  recommended  by  the  accompanying  report,  or  else  cloth- 
ing the  executive,  upon  whom  the  economies  of  this  admin- 
istration must  chiefly  depend,  with  a larger  discretionary 
power  in  the  premises,  is  most  urgently  needed. 

I desire,  so  far  as  I am  charged  with  the  administration  of 
the  State’s  charities,  to  avoid  parsimony  on  the  one  hand, 
and  waste  on  the  other.  This  I will  endeavor  to  do  accord- 
ing to  my  ability,  if  the  necessary  means  are  placed  at  my 
disposal. 

THE  INSANE  POOR. 

I desire  also  to  emphasize,  by  one  or  two  additional  sug- 
gestions, the  recommendations  made  by  the  commission  on 
the  subject  of  the  insane  poor. 

The  Connecticut  hospital  at  Middletown  is  over-crowded. 
The  whole  number  there  in  charge  at  the  present  time  is 
four  hundred  and  fifty-four ; there  are  enrolled  and  awaiting 
admission  sixty-seven,  and  this  enrollment  is  increasing 
every  day.  The  number  neither  admitted  nor  enrolled  who 
are  inadequately,  and  in  some  cases  wretchedly,  provided  for 
in  the  towns,  is  probably  greater  than  all.  I join  in  the 
recommendation  so  urgently  made  by  the  commission  that 


515 


other  and  early  provision  be  made  by  the  State  for  these 
most  desolate  and  afflicted  children  of  want  and  misfortune. 

If  unnecessary  expenditures  have  been  made  upon  the 
hospital  at  Middletown,  this  should  neither  disincline  us  to 
this  duty  nor  retard  its  execution.  Public  charities  are  apt 
to  swing  like  a pendulum  from  one  extreme  to  the  other  — 
sumptuous  and  sentimental  extravagance  at  one  time ; ex- 
cessive reaction  at  another,  with  delayed  and  stinted  pro- 
visions as  a consequence.  May  I be  allowed  to  suggest,  that, 
if  the  State  shall  undertake  the  construction  of  a new  hos- 
pital for  the  insane,  it  ought  not  to  revenge  the  prodigality 
of  the  old  institution  — if  any  there  has  been  — upon  the 
new  ? 

Until  other  and  more  ample  provision  shall  be  made  by  the 
State,  the  existing  hospital  should  be  utilized  to  the  utmost ; 
and,  in  order  that  the  State  may  be  better  able  to  furnish 
such  other  provisions,  every  reasonable  economy  should  be 
introduced  into  the  administration  of  that  institution.  With 
these  ends  in  view,  I submit  to  your  better  wisdom  the  fol- 
lowing recommendations : 

1.  That  no  private  patients  be  for  the  present  allowed  at 
said  hospital.  It  is  intended  for  the  poor  alone,  and  its  rates 
of  charge  are  charity  rates.  The  number  of  private  patients 
now  there  is  twenty,  and  they  are  charged  at  charity  rates 
only.  The  removal  of  these  will  make  place  for  others  who 
are  poor  and  friendless,  and  who  are  suffering  in  the  cellars 
and  caves  of  our  almshouses.  Let  the  revelations  made  at 
Tariffville  and  New  Haven  point  the  argument. 

2.  That  the  price  of  board  and  attendance  be  limited  in 
all  cases  to  four  or  four  and  one-half  dollars  per  week  as  a 
maximum,  instead  of  five  dollars,  as  heretofore  — this  sum 
in  case  of  the  State  poor  (forty  in  number)  to  be  paid  by  the 
State ; in  case  of  the  town  poor  (two  hundred  and  sixty-four 
in  number)  two  and  one-half  dollars  to  be  paid  by  the  town, 
and  the  balance  only  by  the  State.  The  lowest  of  these  pro- 
posed rates  is  considerably  larger  than  is  paid  in  Massachu- 
setts— the  highest  rate  there  being  three  and  one-half  dollars 


516 


only.  The  towns  which  are  by  law  chargeable  with  the  sup- 
port of  their  poor  should  in  justice  pay  the  entire  board-bill 
of  their  beneficiaries.  If,  however,  there  be  fear  that  in  such 
an  event  the  towns  would  be  unwilling  to  encounter  the  ex- 
pense and  so  withhold  their  insane  poor  from  the  benefits  of 
the  hospital,  the  State  will  surely  have  done  enough  to  invite 
them  to  a discharge  of  duty  by  furnishing  them  one  of  the 
most  thoroughly  equipped  hospitals  of  the  country,  rent-free, 
and  by  paying  a weekly  bonus  of  one  and  one-half  or  two 
dollars  for  each  commitment. 

3.  That  in  case  of  u indigents,”  so-called  (one  hundred 
and  thirty  in  number)  one-half  of  the  board  of  each  shall  be 
paid  by  the  town  in  which  he  resides.  This  sum  is  now  paid 
by  the  State,  nothing  at  all  by  the  towns.  The  result  is  that 
many  are  committed  as  indigents  and  pensioned  on  the  State 
whose  pecuniary  condition  does  not  entitle  them  to  public 
charity,  least  of  all  to  the  charity  of  the  State.  If  the  towns 
are  made  chargeable  with  the  partial  support  of  this  class  of 
persons,  the  selectmen  who  apply  to  the  judges  of  probate  for 
orders  of  commitment,  and  the  judges  who  grant  such  orders 
upon  ex  parte  certificates,  sometimes  made  by  interested 
physicians  and  friends,  will  be  put  upon  their  caution,  and 
exercise  a wiser  and  more  discriminating  judgment. 

4.  That  the  superintendent  be  clothed  with  power,  under 
the  direction  of  the  trustees,  of  receiving  or  rejecting  at  dis- 
cretion all  persons  committed  to  the  hospital,  as  well  as  of 
dismissing  those  received.  I make  this  recommendation  to 
the  end  that  the  managers  may  feel  themselves  authorized, 
first,  to  give  preference  to  all  curable  cases.  I am  advised 
that  when  fresh  cases  of  insanity  are  promptly  treated  there 
is  a very  large  percentage  of  recoveries,  and  that  in  chronic 
cases  there  is  next  to  none.  The  curative  work  of  the  insti- 
tution is  its  best  work,  not  only  in  itself,  but  also  because  it 
diminishes  the  number  of  insane,  and  so  diminishes  the  pub- 
lic charge;  and  second,  to  give  the  benefit  of  the  institution 
to  such  beneficiaries  as  are  of  violent  and  destructive  tenden- 
cies, and  who  cannot  be  fitly  or  safely  cared  for  and  restrained 


517 


elsewhere.  There  are  now  in  the  hospital  one  hundred  and 
fifty-three  who  are  classed  as  demented  patients,  most  of 
whom  are  quiet,  submissive,  and  harmless,  and  so  stolid  as  to 
be  insensible  to  the  hospitalities  of  the  place.  These,  or  a 
considerable  portion  of  them,  might  be  returned,  if  need  be, 
to  the  care  of  the  towns  from  which  they  came,  to  make  place 
for  others  whose  cases  promise  hope  of  cure,  or  more  urgently 
demand  restraint  and  discipline. 

In  this  way,  as  it  seems  to  me,  this  noble  institution  — a 
model  in  plan,  equipment,  discipline,  and  comfort  — can  be 
made  to  do  its  best  and  largest  work  under  very  greatly  im- 
proved conditions  of  economy. 

To  this  end  I have  ventured  to  commend  the  able  and 
interesting  report  of  the  commission  to  your  careful  attention, 
and  to  accompany  it  with  such  recommendations  as  have 
been  suggested  to  my  mind  by  my  short  official  experience 
and  observation. 

The  two  charities  of  which  I have  spoken  are  very  noble 
and  deserving.  The  State  will  not  willingly  consent  to  stint 
them ; but  they  can  be  made,  as  I am  well  assured,  very 
much  less  expensive  to  the  treasury,  and  more  beneficial  in 
results. 

The  recommendations  above  made,  if  carried  out  will,  in 
my  judgment,  relieve  the  State  treasury  from  a drain  of 
not  less  than  forty  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

Economy  is  the  lesson  of  the  day  in  all  the  households  of 
the  tax-payers.  Is  it  too  much  to  ask  that  this  lesson  be 
enforced  in  the  households  of  charity  which  the  tax-payers 
have  so  richly  endowed,  and  are  so  generously  supporting  ? 

RICHARD  D.  HUBBARD. 


EEPOET. 


To  His  Excellency  Richard  D.  Hubbard , Governor  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut : 

The  undersigned  were  appointed  as  a Commission  by  your 
predecessor  in  office,  in  accordance  with  the  following  resolu- 
tion, passed  by  the  General  Assembly  at  its  session  in  May 
last : 

“ Resolved  by  this  Assembly , That  the  Governor  is  empow- 
ered to  appoint  a Commission,  consisting  of  five  persons,  to 
inquire  into  the  administration  of  the  various  charitable 
appropriations  of  the  State,  and  to  revise  the  laws  of  the 
State  providing  for  the  support  of  the  State  beneficiaries  in 
the  various  charitable  institutions,  as  in  their  judgment  may 
be  needful  to  improve  such  administration,  and  to  report  such 
revision,  with  any  further  recommendation  respecting  the 
subject,  to  the  next  session  of  the  General  Assembly ; and 
also  to  report  to  such  session  whether  any  further  provision 
is  necessary  to  be  made  for  the  support  of  the  insane  poor  of 
the  State.” 

Our  duties  have  been  devoted  to  the  following  charitable 
institutions,  to  which  appropriations  are  made : the  Perkins 
Institute  for  the  Blind,  at  Boston  ; the  American  Asylum  for 
the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  at  Hartford  ; the  Connecticut  School  for 
Imbeciles,  at  Lakeville  ; the  General  Hospital  of  Connecticut, 
at  New  Haven ; and  the  Hartford  Hospital,  at  Hartford. 

We  have  also  visited  and  examined  the  State  poor  at 
Tariffville,  where  we  found  between  thirty  and  forty  persons. 
It  has  been  the  practice  of  the  State  to  provide  for  these 
paupers  by  contract,  for  a specified  annual  sum,  but  an 
allowance  is  now  made  for  each  one  of  two  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  per  week.  As  a consequence  of  this  arrangement  the 


519 


expense  is  much  increased,  being  for  the  year  ending  March 
31,  1876,  four  thousand  eight  hundred  thirty-eight  dollars 
forty-four  cents  ($4,838.44) ; and  for  the  following  eight 
months,  three  thousand  four  hundred  eleven  dollars  thirty- 
three  cents  ($3,411.33).  The  sum  paid  in  the  year  in  which 
the  contract  system  ceased,  1872,  was  fourteen  hundred 
twenty-five  dollars  ($1,425). 

Although  the  State  now  pays  a much  larger  sum  than 
formerly,  we  have  no  disposition  to  recommend  a return  to 
the  contract  system,  nor  do  we  believe  it  is  advisable  in  the 
case  of  any  paupers.  Our  feelings  revolt  at  the  idea  of 
letting  to  the  lowest  bidder  the  care  of  the  poor;  the  fear 
that  they  may  be  neglected  or  abused,  and  the  natural 
tendency  in  the  keeper  to  make  the  most  of  a bargain, 
especially  if  it  has  been  a bad  one,  will  always  excite  suspi- 
cions that  the  poor  and  helpless  may  be  made  the  sufferers. 
Notwithstanding  the  occasional  observation  of  officials,  mis- 
management may  occur,  for  which  under  such  a system 
legislation  is  useless.  So  many  are  physically  disabled  or 
mentally  incapacitated,  that  they  are  unwilling  to  make 
complaints,  or  too  feeble  to  bring  them  to  notice. 

As  far  as  our  observation  extends,  but  little  labor  can  be 
expected  from  the  very  poor,  certainly  profitable  labor ; a 
considerable  proportion  of  them,  through  accident,  or  their 
own  improvidence,  are  comparatively  helpless.  Those,  how- 
ever, whose  strength  will  permit,  should  be  required  to  labor, 
and  it  is  desirable,  even  if  it  is  not  profitable ; idleness  is 
demoralizing,  and  especially  so  for  this  class.  The  spectacle 
of  stout  men  confined  in  prisons  or  almshouses  without 
occupation,  is  a sad  one ; to  be  deprived  of  it  is  one  of  the 
severest  of  punishments ; it  neither  benefits  the  criminal  or 
pauper,  and  returns  him  again  upon  society,  more  idle  or 
vicious  than  at  first.  While  at  this  time  all  labor  is  in  so 
little  demand,  it  may  be  impossible  to  profitably  employ 
them,  yet  a system  properly  apportioned  to  each  one  might 
stimulate  the  industrial  capacity  of  some,  and  aid  in  effecting 
a moral  improvement  in  others. 


520 


As  a class,  the  poor  are  annually  increasing,  and  the  proper 
treatment  of  this  element  is  demanding  our  serious  conside- 
ration. In  old  and  populous  countries  it  has  always  been  a 
vexed  question ; it  is  now  beginning  to  assume  proportions 
with  us.  In  whatever  way  we  may  look  at  it,  it  will  be  well 
to  remember  that  the  poor  we  have  with  us  always,  and  that 
if  we  bear  in  mind  the  teachings  of  our  Divine  Master,  we 
shall  be  very  considerate  of  them.  In  all  of  our  appeals  for 
justice,  let  us  not  forget  the  claims  of  mercy. 

While  we  are  not  disposed  to  unnecessarily  blame  Mr. 
Sanford,  yet  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  his  buildings  and 
accommodations  generally  are  far  from  being  proper  or 
sufficient.  All  hygienic  laws  are  here  set  at  defiance  in  the 
crowded  and  ill-ventilated  rooms,  and  seemingly  nothing  but 
the  most  urgent  necessity  would  fill  them  to  their  present 
numbers.  It  was  painful  to  find  here  several  of  the  imbecile 
and  insane,  who  should  be  elsewhere  provided  for.  We  have 
no  reason  to  suppose  that  the  paupers  are  not  comfortably 
fed  and  warmed,  but  the  accommodations  are  far  from  being 
sufficient. 

The  only  official  oversight  which  these  people  receive,  is 
believed  to  be  that  from  the  comptroller  of  the  State,  whose 
duties  are  sufficient  without  this  care,  which  must  necessarily 
be  imperfect. 

We  found  a marked  contrast  in  the  condition  of  these 
persons  when  compared  with  those  confined  in  the  Hartford 
county  jail,  which  was  visited  on  another  day.  It  is  not 
necessary  to  say  that  better  provision  is  made  for  the  crim- 
inal than  for  the  pauper ; but  aside  from  the  greater  restraint 
in  the  one  case,  the  difference  was  astonishing  in  all  that  has 
regard  to  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  life ; and  more 
astonishing  still  in  all  that  tends  to  good  order,  discipline, 
cleanliness,  and  hygienic  essentials.  Such  crowded  rooms, 
ill-ventilated  and  narrow,  if  found  in  any  of  our  penal  institu- 
tions, would  not  be  tolerated  for  a moment ; there  would 
come  a public  outcry  against  such  inhumanity,  that  a change 
would  be  compelled  at  once.  We  have  never  seen  in  all  our 


521 


previous  observations  of  hospitals,  prisons,  or  almshouses,, 
anything,  so  entirely  opposed  to  all  received  ideas  of  the 
proper  care  of  congregated  individuals,  as  we  saw  at  Tariff- 
ville.  We  are  not  disposed  to  place  the  blame  wholly  upon 
Mr.  Sanford  ; it  is  the  fault  of  this  system  of  providing  for 
the  poor. 

The  care  of  the  criminal  class  lias  been  greatly  improved 
within  the  last  fifty  years ; safe  and  comfortable  buildings 
have  been  furnished  for  them,  with  sufficient  food,  proper 
ventilation,  and  means  of  instruction ; we  are  even  asked  to 
furnish  them  with  books  and  papers  to  lighten  their  weary 
hours.  Having,  with  reluctance,  decided  to  punish  the 
individual,  we  have  concluded  to  make  that  punishment  as 
little  irksome  as  possible,  and  so  if  we  do  not  pardon  him 
before  the  term  of  his  sentence  is  completed,  we  furnish  him 
with  more  warmth,  better  food,  better  clothing,  more  solid 
and  essential  comforts  and  necessaries  in  fact,  than  he  always 
before  enjoyed,  or  than  our  pauper  brethren  are  accustomed 
to  receive.  It  almost  seems  as  if  the  kindness  of  the  human 
heart  had  been  exhausted  upon  the  criminal  element  of 
society,  and  so  it  has  come  to  pass  that  the  pauper  has  been 
crowded  to  the  wall  and  deprived  of  his  just  share  in  our 
benevolence. 

We  are  fully  aware  of  all  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  a 
change  and  of  the  increased  expense  which  such  a change 
would  necessitate  if  the  State  would  congregate  its  paupers. 
It  is  a serious  matter  for  the  State  to  consider  whether  the 
time  has  not  come  for  an  earnest  movement  in  a new  direc- 
tion. All  over  the  land  there  is  a complaint  of  the  profes- 
sional tramps  and  beggars,  too  lazy  to  work,  and  often  too 
vicious  to  be  honest.  While  we  do  not  confound  this  wander- 
ing class  with  the  poor  of  our  towns,  yet  the  proper  considera- 
tion of  the  whole  subject  comes  naturally  upon  us.  The 
legislature  has  had  this  matter  before  it  on  several  occasions, 
but  action  has  been  deferred,  probably  because  the  efficient 
or  satisfactory  remedy  has  not  been  made  apparent.  It  is 
difficult  to  handle,  but  ought  not  to  be  forgotten  or  neglected. 


522 


A State  which  has  done  as  much  as  our  honored  common- 
wealth  in  the  cause  of  humanity,  will  not  hesitate  to  do  still 
more  when  its  people  are  thoroughly  in  earnest. 

In  connection  with  this  subject  of  the  care  of  the  poor,  it 
is  well  to  refer  to  a system  of  congregating  the  paupers  of 
different  towns,  so  that  it  may  happen,  as  it  does  at  Tariff- 
ville,  that  the  poor  of  eight  of  them  are  kept  by  Mr.  Sanford. 
Possibly  the  expense  may  be  less  than  at  home,  but  this  is 
doubtful,  for  a little  assistance  rendered  to  a family  for  the 
care  of  a sick  or  feeble  member  may  be  amply  sufficient,  with 
the  products  of  its  own  labor  for  its  own  wants.  But  the 
pecuniary  view  is  not  the  only  one  to  be  considered ; it  is  a 
positive  inhumanity  also  to  remove  a man  from  his  home,  or 
his  birthplace  if  he  has  no  home,  merely  because  he  is  poor. 
He  has  committed  no  crime,  he  has  not  offended  society;  he 
has  been  unfortunate,  sometimes  from  his  own  imprudences, 
sometimes  from  his  limited  natural  capacity.  He  has  mingled 
with  the  people  of  the  town,  been  brought  up  with  its 
children,  attended  its  common  schools,  worked  with  the  men, 
played  with  the  boys : not  unfrequently  he  is  a legal  voter, 
whose  franchise  must  remain  unexercised,  unless  with  con- 
siderable labor  and  expense:  once  in  each  year,  perhaps,  he 
finds  the  hearts  of  his  brethren  are  yearning  for  him.  What- 
ever is  common  to  the  town  is,  in  a narrower  sense,  common 
to  him.  He  is  familiar  with  its  families,  its  incidents,  its 
traditions.  As  age  and  infirmities  creep  upon  him  they  fall 
with  increased  severity  if  he  is  sent  amongst  strangers,  who 
care  for  him  for  a stipend,  and  with  none  of  the  love  of  a 
relative  or  townsman.  Poverty  itself  is  galling  enough,  but 
the  manner  in  which  relief  is  afforded  may  lessen  its  burden 
or  increase  its  severity. 

And  it  is  well  to  consider  whether,  in  attempting  to  put 
away  poverty  out  of  our  sight,  we  are  not  doing  a positive 
injury  to  ourselves.  Some  of  the  best  points  in  our  nature 
are  excited  or  heightened  by  the  afflictions  we  see  in  others. 
No  better  or  worthier  object  exists  than  the  desire  to  do  good, 
and  when  the  power  exists  with  the  desire  he  is  greater  who 


523 


exercises  it  than  the  one  who,  for  selfish  ambition,  pulls 
down  thrones  or  builds  up  empires.  It  is  well  to  be  brought 
into  actual  contact  with  poverty  : in  the  rapid  decadence  of 
families  we  may  all  experience  it. 

THE  DEAF  AND  DUMB. 

The  General  Assembly,  at  its  session  in  1874,  made  an 
annual  grant  of  eleven  thousand  dollars  for  the  purpose  of 
instructing  the  deaf  mutes  of  the  State.  The  sum  had  pre- 
viously been  less,  but  upon  representations  was  increased  to 
the  amount  above  named.  It  is  not  specified  in  the  act  that 
the  beneficiaries  shall  be  indigent,  but  provision  is  made  for 
all  alike.  It  is  claimed  that  as  the  State  engages  to  educate 
its  children,  it  should  specially  do  so  for  this  unfortunate 
class. 

The  sum  of  $175  is  charged  for  each  pupil  at  the  American 
Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  at  Hartford,  and  according 
to  its  report  for  1876  there  were  fifty-four  pupils  supported 
by  Connecticut.  The  comptroller  states  in  his  last  report 
that  nine  thousand  four  hundred  ninety-one  dollars  fifty 
cents  ($9,491.50)  have  been  drawn  from  the  treasury  upon 
orders,  leaving  a part  of  the  appropriation  unexpended. 
This  has  been  the  case  for  several  years,  but  the  managers 
stated  to  us  that  a considerable  number  of  deaf  mutes  were 
remaining  at  their  homes  in  different  towns,  to  whom  the 
benefits  of  an  education  in  this  asylum  would  be  a blessing. 
It  is  hoped  that  the  provision  made  by  the  State  will  be  en- 
joyed by  all  for  whom  it  was  intended.  Perhaps  a more 
extended  notice  is  only  necessary  to  induce  parents  to  send 
their  children  here.  A course  of  special  education  extending 
from  five  to  ten  years  cannot  well  be  conducted,  except  in  a 
school  of  this  character. 

The  management  seems  to  be  good,  the  influences  are  ex- 
cellent, and  there  appears  to  be  no  necessity  for  a change  of 
legislation  in  this  matter. 


524 


THE  PERKINS  INSTITUTE  FOR  THE  BLIND. 

The  annual  grant  made  by  the  General  Assembly  in  1871 
for  chis  institution,  located  at  Boston,  Mass.,  was  $6,000. 
There  has  been  drawn  on  orders  for  the  year  1876,  $3,425.  As 
the  grant  has  not  been  wholly  used  in  each  year,  it  is  pro- 
posed by  the  comptroller  that  the  unexpended  balance 
should  be  covered  back  to  the  credit  of  the  civil  list  funds.  It 
is  supposed  that  there  are  yet  some  in  this  State  who  do  not 
enjoy  the  benefit  of  this  grant,  possibly  because  they  are  not 
aware  of  it. 

A part  of  the  commission  visited  this  school  and  were  very 
favorably  impressed  with  it.  They  found  here  fourteen  pupils 
as  the  beneficiaries  of  the  State  at  an  expense  of  $300  each. 
The  progress  made  in  some  special  departments  was  truly  won- 
derful; they  become  particularly  expert  as  musicians  and 
teachers  of  music,  and  some  of  the  graduates  are  enabled  to 
earn  a very  comfortable  living  by  this  exercise  of  their  talents. 
Anything  which  promises  comfort  or  aid  to  these  unfortunates 
is  to  be  earnestly  commended. 

We  advise  no  change  in  the  legislation  on  this  subject. 

THE  CONNECTICUT  SCHOOL  FOR  IMBECILES. 

In  1873  the  General  Assembly  made  an  annual  grant  of 
seven  thousand  dollars  for  instruction  in  this  school,  the  sum 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  be  paid  for  each  child 
unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Governor.  The  comptroller 
states  in  his  last  report  that  there  has  been  drawn  on  orders 
in  1876  the  sum  of  four  thousand  two  hundred  ninety-three 
dollars  sixty-six  cents  ($4,293.66),  and  thus  a part  of  the 
grant  remains  unappropriated.  The  same  remarks  made 
concerning  the  deaf  and  dumb  and  the  blind  can  be  made 
here  — that  all  those  for  whom  this  grant  was  intended  do 
not  receive  its  benefits.  The  superintendent  thinks  there  is 
a considerable  number  of  imbecile  children  in  this  State  who 
have  not  yet  been  brought  to  this  school,  but  who  would  be 
placed  in  it  for  instruction  if  proper  measures  were  institu- 
ted. It  is  not  creditable  that  these  feeble-minded  children 


525 


should  be  allowed  to  grow  up  in  ignorance,  and  too  often  in 
idleness  and  viciousness,  if  it  can  be  prevented. 

This  school  was  incorporated  in  1861,  is  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a board  of  trustees,  is  believed  to  have  been  success- 
ful in  its  work,  and  has  property  in  buildings  and  land  which 
is  estimated  to  be  worth  sixty  thousand  dollars,  and  this,  we 
understand,  the  directors  are  willing  to  turn  over  to  the  State 
if  the  State  will  carry  on  the  school  and  assume  an  indebt- 
edness of  about  seventeen  thousand  dollars.  It  is  not  un- 
frequently  but  improperly  called  Dr.  Knight’s  school,  but 
this  is  in  no  sense  true,  except  that  he  is  its  superintendent, 
was  its  chief  originator,  and  has  been  active  in  its  work.  It 
is  no  more  the  school  of  Dr.  Knight  than  is  the  Asylum  for 
the  Deaf  and  Dumb  the  school  of  Edward  A.  Stone  or  the 
Retreat  for  the  Insane  the  hospital  of  Dr.  H.  P.  Stearns. 
When  these  men  die,  or  are  displaced,  the  institutions  will 
still  be  carried  on,  and  there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that 
anything  different  will  happen  at  Lakeville.  We  understood 
from  Dr.  Knight  that  he  had  no  pecuniary  interest  in  the 
Connecticut  School  for  Imbeciles  aside  from  the  necessary 
support  which  it  gives  him  and  the  greater  part  of  the  furni- 
ture in  the  buildings,  worth,  perhaps,  two  thousand  dollars. 
If  the  State  will  adopt  the  school,  this  he  is  willing  should 
go  with  it. 

But  the  State  can  do  better,  certainly  for  the  present ; and 
it  will  be  well  to  continue  to  employ  the  existing  agencies  of 
this  corporation,  just  as  it  does  those  for  the  deaf  and  dumb 
at  Hartford,  for  the  blind  at  Boston,  and  as  it  formerly  did 
for  the  insane  at  the  Retreat  in  Hartford. 

The  wonderful  energy  and  perseverance  of  Dr.  Knight 
should  enlist  our  sympathy  and  support.  Whenever  one  is 
found  who  enters  with  his  whole  heart  into  this  subject,  gen- 
erally regarded  as  so  painful,  he  is  deserving  of  our  hearty 
encouragement.  These  feeble-minded  children  are  suffering 
from  no  faults  of  their  own : they  too  often  bear  the  burden 
of  others  who  have  violated  the  laws  of  health  or  of  nature, 
so  we  must  have  a certain  amount  of  sympathy  for  them  and 


526 


aid  in  giving  them  instruction,  that  they  may  become  more 
useful  and  less  repulsive. 

There  are  now  sixty-six  pupils  from  Connecticut,  thirty- 
three  of  whom  receive  an  allowance  from  the  State  grant  of 
three  dollars  per  week.  The  cost  to  the  institution  of  each 
pupil  is  five  dollars  per  week  ; private  pupils  out  of  the  State 
pay  larger  sums,  and  so  the  institution  is  able  to  take  a few 
who  only  receive  the  State  aid.  Accommodations  are  suffi- 
cient for  one  hundred  and  twenty -five  pupils,  so  that  the  pres- 
ent number  may  be  considerably  increased. 

We  would  make  no  suggestions  for  a change  in  the  present 
legislation  except  that  it  is  desirable  that  the  same  powers 
possessed  by  judges  of  probate  of  commitment  of  insane  to 
the  hospital  at  Middletown  should  be  possessed  by  them  as  to 
the  commitment  of  imbecile  children  to  the  school  at  Lake- 
ville. 

SICK  SOLDIERS. 

In  1865  the  General  Assembly  passed  the  following  act: 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly , That  whenever  any  discharged  soldier 
requiring  surgical  attendance  shall  be  placed  as  a patient  in  the 
Hartford  hospital  or  in  the  institution  of  the  General  Hospital 
Society  of  Connecticut,  the  sum  of  three  dollars  per  week  for  the 
support  of  such  patient  shall  be  paid  from  the  State  treasury  to 
such  hospitals  respectively,  under  the  direction  of  the  Governor  of 
this  State  and  the  executive  committee  of  said  hospitals  respect- 
ively. 

Subsequently  the  act  was  amended  by  making  the  compen- 
sation six  dollars  per  week  instead  of  three,  and  has  thus 
been  in  force  to  the  present  time.  The  promise  which  the 
State  has  made  is  certainly  very  generous,  and,  so  far  as  we 
are  familiar,  beyond  that  of  most  other  States.  Connecticut, 
however,  will  not  be  likely  to  fail  in  its  duty  to  the  defenders 
of  our  government,  and  grudges  no  necessary  or  promised 
expenditure. 

To  show  the  amount  expended  since  the  year  1876,  inclu- 
sive, the  following  table  is  submitted.  The  figures  were  ob- 


527 


tained  from  the  comptroller’s  office,  and  it  was  not  easy  to 
ascertain  the  exact  sum  paid  on  account  of  sick  soldiers  for 
each  year  previous  to  the  above  date,  as  the  accounts  were 
not  separately  kept : 


General  Hospital  Society,  New  Haven.  Hartford  Hospital. 


1870,  . 

$5,723.90 

1870, 

$7,743.71 

1871,  . 

3,807.43 

1871, 

3,006.84 

1872,  . 

5,956.84 

1872, 

2,810.18 

1873,  . 

9,926.56 

1873, 

4,863.54 

1874,  . 

14,670.87 

1874, 

6,739.74 

1875,  . 

18,760.27 

1875, 

10,112.33 

1876,  . 

25,037.07 

1876, 

16,051.83 

Total, 

$83,882.94 

Total, 

. $51,328.17 

Total  amount  paid  in  seven  years,  $135,211.11. 

The  steady  and  large  increase  in  both  of  these  hospitals  is 
thus  readily  seen.  We  are  aware  that  the  amount  is  larger 
than  it  ought  to  have  been,  and  it  is  doubtless  much  larger 
than  was  originally  expected.  But  it  has  seemed  difficult  to 
put  a check  to  it,  partly  because  the  soldiers  were  earnestly 
claiming  admission,  partly  because  the  managers  of  the  hos- 
pitals gave  encouragement  to  their  admission  and  did  not 
exercise  sufficient  authority  in  their  discharge,  and  partly, 
also,  from  the  ease  with  which  a certificate  to  be  presented  to 
the  Governor  for  his  order  could  be  obtained.  The  supervis- 
ion or  discretion  which  he  could  exercise  was  very  limited 
indeed,  nor  could  he  be  expected  to  be  familiar  with  the  ne- 
cessity for  admission.  In  justice  to  the  managers  of  these 
institutions  it  should  be  said  that  they  have  been  aware  of 
the  abuse  of  the  bounty  of  the  State  and  thought  them- 
selves powerless  to  remedy  the  evil.  The  legislation  was,  as 
Governor  Ingersoll  characterized  it,  44  crude,”  and  the  power 
which  gave  it  force  seems  to  be  the  only  one  able  to  check  it. 

A very  strict,  but  as  we  think  unauthorized,  construction 
of  the  act  would  confine  its  benefit  to  those  alone  who  re- 
quired “ surgical  ” attendance.  In  our  opinion  the  term  is  a 
general  one,  comprising  both  64  surgical  ” and  44  medical  ” 
cases ; indeed,  it  would  not  appear  to  be  proper  otherwise, 
for  the  disability  incurred  by  sickness  is  greater  than  the 


528 


disability  incurred  from  wounds,  many  more  dying  from  the 
former  than  from  the  latter ; and  for  the  cure  of  these  men 
“ surgeons  ” are  appointed,  who  alike  treat  all  of  them. 
Massachusetts,  in  allowing  cities  or  towns  to  pay  monthly 
the  sum  of  six  dollars  to  any  soldier  or  sailor  “ who  is  now 
residing  within  this  State,  and  who  is  wholly  or  partially 
disabled  by  reason  of  wounds  received  in  said  service,  or  by 
sickness  or  disability  contracted  therein,”  has  expressed  it 
better  and  more  definitely  than  we  have.  By  confining  the 
grant  to  disability  incurred  during  the  war,  it  has  placed  the 
matter  in  such  a position  that  the  expense  will  probably 
diminish  each  year ; whereas  by  the  legislation  of  this  State, 
and  by  the  construction  which  has  been  given  to  it,  the 
expenditure  will  naturally  increase,  as  the  figures  above 
show,  as  the  soldiers  become  more  cognizant  of  it,  and 
as  age  and  infirmities  come  upon  them.  Although  in  Massa- 
chusetts the  cities  and  towns  pay  to  the  soldiers  the  sum 
named,  yet  they  are  reimbursed  by  the  State  to  a certain 
extent.  Possibly  in  making  the  primary  expenditure  by  the 
towns,  the  cases  undergo  a closer  scrutiny  and  become  more 
thoroughly  sifted ; and  possibly,  also,  some  are  put  away  or 
neglected,  when  the  more  generous  action  of  the  State  would 
afford  the  desired  and  proper  relief.  In  these  instances  it  is 
better  to  err  on  the  side  which  does  too  much,  rather  than  on 
the  side  which  does  too  little. 

Those  who  have  given  this  subject  attention  are  divided  in 
opinion  as  to  the  application  of  the  act  in  affording  relief  to 
those  whose  disability  was  not  incurred  during  the  war,  and 
when  unprejudiced  men  hold  to  contrary  opinions,  it  may  be 
fairly  supposed  that  there  is  reasonable  ground  for  it.  It  is 
often  very  difficult  to  determine  whether  the  cause  of  the 
disability  originated  during  the  war,  or  subsequent  to  it.  In 
acute  cases  of  disease  an  opinion  may  readily  be  given,  but 
in  those  of  a chronic  nature  it  is  easy  to  be  at  fault.  The 
act  has  been  so  construed  as  to  mean  acute  cases  of  disease 
whose  commencement  was  perhaps  only  in  the  last  week,  and 
whose  causes  were  thus  immediate  and  present,  having  no 


529 


relation  whatever  to  injuries  or  exposures  in  previous  years. 
And  so  a case  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  or  of  acute  rheu- 
matism, or  a recent  fracture  of  the  leg,  might  be  admitted 
into  the  hospitals,  and  they  would  be  authorized  to  draw  six 
dollars  per  week  for  each  one.  The  compensation  might  not 
be  too  much  ; the  point  is,  Was  this  application  intended  ? 

As  we  have  intimated,  it  is  better  to  be  generous  in  this 
matter  rather  than  too  exacting;  but  if,  with  the  checks 
which  we  shall  propose,  the  burden  is  found  to  be  too  great, 
a repeal  of  the  act  may  be  a necessity. 

We  found  that  there  were  ninety-six  soldier  patients  in  the 
hospital  at  New  Haven  on  the  29th  of  November  last,  and 
fifty-nine  in  the  Hartford  hospital  at  the  same  time.  A per- 
sonal examination  showed  that  some  of  them  were  not 
under  treatment,  and  that  they  ought  to  have  been  pre- 
viously discharged.  But  too  many  have  come  to  regard 
these  institutions  as  asylums  or  homes,  and  when  discharged 
from  one  by  reason  of  cure  or  for  disobedience  — expressing 
it  mildly  — have  soon  gone  to  the  other,  and  so  have  con- 
trived to  pass  a considerable  period  of  time  in  a very  com- 
fortable manner,  at  the  expense  of  the  State.  But  these 
institutions  are  in  no  sense  soldiers’  homes  or  soldiers’ 
retreats ; they  were  not  incorporated  as  permanent  resi- 
dences for  healthy  individuals  of  any  class,  or  even  for  those 
who  are  somewhat  feeble  ; this  was  not  the  intention  of 
their  originators.  They  were  founded  for  the  cure  of  dis- 
ease, for  the  medical  and  surgical  treatment  of  sick  people, 
and  should  be  confined  to  this,  their  legitimate  duty.  Other 
institutions  afford  other  care  and  protection,  intended  for  the 
aged  and  feeble,  for  soldiers  and  sailorfc  disabled  in  the 
cause  of  their  country.  These  are  properly  called  homes, 
and  asylums,  and  rests  ; a generous  nation  ever  provides 
them,  and  when  it  neglects  those  who,  taking  their  lives  in 
their  hands,  go  out  as  its  defenders,  then  may  that  nation 
hang  its  head  in  shame.  The  ingratitude  of  an  individual  is 
enough;  the  ingratitude  of  a community  is  most  galling 
of  all. 


34 


530 


The  general  government  has  provided  places  for  certain  of 
these  soldiers,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  they  should  not 
generally  enter  them.  Of  the  ninety-four  patients  at  New 
Haven  on  the  31st  of  December,  forty-one  were  without 
families ; of  the  ninety-six  at  the  same  place  on  the  29th  of 
November,  twenty-one  were  permanently  disabled ; a number 
of  these  were  consumptives,  and  twelve  were  drawing  pen- 
sions which  were  not  always  well  applied.  Of  the  fifty-nine 
in  the  Hartford  hospital  at  the  same  date,  twelve  were 
afflicted  with  incurable  diseases ; of  the  eighteen  admitted 
previous  to  April  1,  1876,  and  still  there,  one-half  were  in- 
curable. Some  of  these  might  go,  and  properly  should  go,  to 
the  homes  provided  for  them  by  the  general  government  at 
Augusta,  in  Maine,  at  Dayton,  in  Ohio,  at  Hampton,  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  we  think  at  other  places.  As  provision  is  here 
afforded  them,  payment  is  made  twice,  if  payment  is  made 
by  the  State.  By  shutting  off  this  class,  considerable  relief 
would  be  found. 

Further  relief  would  also  be  afforded  if  the  managers  of 
these  hospitals  were  held  to  a more  strict  accountability  in 
their  admissions  and  discharges.  It  should  be  insisted  that 
no  trivial  or  unfounded  complaint  procured  an  admission, 
and  that  a discharge  should  be  made  as  soon  as  a cure  was 
effected  ; and  there  should  be  an  understanding  by  the  gov- 
ernment of  both  hospitals  that  no  unwarranted  efforts  or 
strife  in  procuring  patients  will  be  tolerated.  If  this  arrange- 
ment was  rigidly  carried  out,  the  number  obtaining  the  aid 
of  the  State  improperly  would  be  diminished. 

To  be  still  more  careful  of  the  interest  of  the  State,  and  to 
afford  no  excuse  of  injustice  to  the  soldier,  it  would  be  well, 
and  in  our  opinion  is  very  desirable,  that  two  examining 
surgeons  or  inspectors  should  be  appointed,  who  should  visit 
these  hospitals  at  least  once  in  each  month,  to  examine  all 
receiving  State  aid,  and  having  power  to  discharge  all  who, 
in  their  opinion,  should  be  discharged.  In  thus  often  visit- 
ing each  hospital,  and  together,  and  justly  exercising  their 
power,  it  would  appear  that  the  State  has  as  much  protec- 


531 


tion  as  it  can  well  obtain.  These  surgeons  should  be  men  of 
character,  skilled  in  their  profession,  free  from  any  hospital 
connection,  and  independent  enough  to  do  their  duty  faith- 
fully. Probably  three  hundred  dollars  each  would  be  suffi- 
cient annual  compensation,  and  this  arrangement  would  save 
thousands  of  dollars  to  the  State. 

If,  however,  after  a sufficient  trial,  the  evils  which  we  have 
enumerated  are  still  continued,  it  might  be  advisable  to  repeal 
the  original  act.  It  is  the  opinion  of  some  of  the  managers 
that  the  number  will  be  reduced  one-half,  and  perhaps  two- 
thirds,  if  these  views  are  carried  out.  We  are  unanimously 
of  the  opinion  that  the  trial  should  be  made. 

As  a further  necessity  the  State  should  be  divided  into 
two  districts,  the  four  upper  counties  constituting  one,  the 
applicants  from  this  section  to  be  received  only  at  the  hos- 
pital in  Hartford ; the  four  lower  counties  forming  the 
second,  the  applicants  only  to  be  received  at  the  hospital  in 
New  Haven.  An  arrangement  of  this  character  seems  to  be 
necessary,  in  order  to  prevent  admission  into  one  hospital  as 
soon  as  discharged  from  the  other. 

THE  INSANE  POOR. 

No  part  of  the  subject  committed  to  us  has  given  more 
anxiety  than  that  relating  to  the  insane  poor.  The  earnest 
call  for  more  provision  for  this  class,  and  its  generally  recog- 
nized necessity,  has  led  to  its  careful  consideration  during 
the  short  time  since  our  appointment.  Circulars  were  sent 
to  the  selectmen  of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  towns  of 
the  State,  and  returns  have  been  received  from  about  one 
hundred  of  them  ; they  were  also  sent  to  clergymen  and 
physicians,  who  were  supposed  to  be  cognizant  of  some  cases 
which  might  not  otherwise  be  reported.  From  these  returns 
it  appears  that  there  are  now  outside  of  the  State  hospital  at 
Middletown  and  the  Retreat  for  the  Insane  Tit  Hartford,  be- 
tween four  and  five  hundred  of  the  indigent  insane  for  whom 
provision  should  be  made.  Dr.  Shew  states  that  there  are 
now  seventy  women  waiting  admission,  “ and  a much  larger 


532 


number  would  be  enrolled  if  any  encouragement  of  an  early 
admission  could  be  given.” 

That  there  is  a necessity  for  further  provision,  all  who  are 
familiar  with  the  administration  of  towns  are  aware.  The 
claims  are  numerous  and  urgent,  and  as  accommodations 
cannot  be  found  within  the  State,  the  patients  are  of  neces- 
sity sent  to  institutions  without  its  borders,  or  are  retained 
in  almshouses,  or  remain  with  their  friends.  It  is  especially 
a serious  matter  when  the  needed  relief  is  not  afforded  to 
the  acute  cases,  for  here  the  great  benefit  of  prompt  treat- 
ment is  very  noticeable  ; these  cases  demand  attention,  and 
call  upon  us  for  immediate  action. 

But  there  is  another  and  larger  class  — the  chronic  insane 
— for  whom  something  must  be  done.  For  a majority  of 
these  there  is  now  no  fit  provision  outside  of  the  State  Hos- 
pital ; as  a consequence,  many  of  them  are  in  almhouses, 
without  that  special  care  which  is  necessary,  and  which  their 
helpless  condition  demands.  We  have  no  desire  to  reflect 
upon  anything  which  we  have  seen  or  have  heard,  but  are 
determined  to  present  this  matter  in  such  a light  that  we 
trust  will  lead  to  a kindly  action  on  the  part  of  the  General 
Assembly. 

“ How  serious  a matter  insanity  is  few  can  realize,  unless 
they  are  brought  in  immediate  contact  with  it.  We  talk 
about  ordinary  sickness  which  afflicts  the  body  as  being  un- 
fortunate or  severe,  but  how  much  more  so  that  which,  in 
addition,  seizes  upon  both  body  and  mind  ? ” It  falls  with 
severity  upon  any  household,  but  with  especial  weight  upon 
those  of  narrow  fortunes.  The  neighborly  kindness  which 
comforts  and  assists  during  an  illness  or  an  injury  requires 
but  little  of  expense  and  of  time,  but  the  care  of  insanity  is 
a heavier  burden,  extends  over  a longer  period,  interferes 
with  the  necessary  arrangements  of  families,  and  requires 
the  assistance  of  many  persons ; the  gratuitous  aid  of  neigh- 
bors soon  becomes  fatigued,  and  the  required  assistance 
from  the  town  also  becomes  expensive ; neither  is  satisfac- 
tory, and  the  case  is  ill-managed  and  troublesome. 


It  is  possible  there  are  some  who  are  incredulous  as  to  the 
necessity  of  further  provision  for  the  insane,  and  some  may 
even  doubt  whether  any  State  provision  is  necessary  at  all. 
But  insanity  is  so  serious  a disease  that  it  falls  altogether 
out  of  the  line  of  common  illness.  Its  treatment  is  so  dif- 
ferent that  but  few  are  competent  for  its  management,  possess 
the  requisite  tact  and  patience,  or  the  necessary  means  of 
cure.  A town  can  very  well  undertake  to  provide  for  its  in- 
habitants in  an  epidemic  of  small-pox  or  scarlet  fever ; it 
can  furnish  the  necessary  attendants,  and  food  and  medicine, 
when  required,  for  its  poor  afflicted  with  fever,  or  dysentery, 
or  rheumatism.  No  special  nursing,  or  care,  or  appliances 
are  required  beyond  those  with  which  all  are  familiar,  and 
which  are  readily  and  cheaply  to  be  found ; nothing  extraor- 
dinary is  needed,  and  the  necessary  relief  is  at  once 
afforded.  But  too  often  the  violence  of  insanity  requires  a 
patient  and  skillful  aid,  and  comforts  and  appliances  which 
are  not  easily  obtained.  And  it  should  not  be  forgotten  that 
brutal  men  and  brutal  women,  and  sometimes  those,  too, 
who  would  shudder  if  such  terms  were  applied  to  them,  are 
guilty  of  the  most  intolerable  cruelty  to  the  insane  in  their 
management  of  them,  or  in  their  efforts  to  carry  out  a 
fanatical  idea,  that  these  persons  “ must  be  made  to  mind.” 
Such  cruelties,  if  committed  in  an  insane  hospital,  would 
arouse  the  land. 

The  feeble  condition  of  the  insane  would  in  itself  seem  to 
warrant  a special  treatment,  for  as  a mental  disease  is  more 
serious  than  an  ordinary  illness,  putting  it  out  of  the  power 
of  the  afflicted  one  to  help  himself,  so  it  would  seem  that  he 
possessed  a natural  claim  for  the  help  of  his  fellows.  The 
man  full  of  life  and  energy  can  provide  for  himself,  and  is 
satisfied  ; he  needs  no  staff  to  lean  upon,  or  outstretched 
hand  to  guide  him  on  his  way.  But  if  insanity  falls  upon 
him,  he  is  like  a ship  without  a rudder,  and  needs  control 
more  than  a child ; he  neither  provides  for  himself  or  for 
others,  misinterprets  the  good  which  is  intended  him,  and 
injures,  too  often,  his  dearest  friends.  The  State  provides 


534 


for  the  deaf  and  the  dumb,  for  the  imbecile  and  the  blind  ; 
it  has  agreed  to  furnish  funds  for  their  instruction,  even  as  we 
have  shown,  beyond  the  claims  yet  made  upon  it.  It  has 
also  done  a noble  work  for  the  insane,  but  has  not  yet  come 
up  to  the  claims  made  upon  it.  What  is  needed  is  an  exten- 
sion of  that  work.  In  the  great  race  of  life  the  feeble 
and  afflicted  must  be  given  a fair  chance  ; the  poor  and  needy 
must  be  helped  on  their  way. 

At  Tariffville  we  found  about  ten  who  were  either  insane 
or  imbecile.  They  ought  not  to  be  there  ; it  is  no  proper 
place  for  these  feeble  persons,  and  it  is  an  outrage  upon  hu- 
manity, a disgrace  to  the  civilization  of  the  State,  and  a sad 
reflection  upon  our  Christianity  that  they  are  there  at  all. 
We  will  not  be  silent  or  smooth  this  matter  with  pleasant 
words,  and  end  by  saying,  “ This  is  all  very  well  for  them.” 
It  is  not  well  for  them,  and  no  one  with  the  love  of  God  in 
his  heart  and  true  love  for  his  fellow-men  can  honestly  say 
it.  We  shed  our  tears  over  the  distant  and  repulsive  Fejee 
Islander,  and  mourn  the  wrongs  of  the  barbarous  Sioux  In- 
dian ; but  here,  right  here,  in  this  Christian  commonwealth, 
are  men  and  women  kept  day  after  day,  by  the  authority  of 
the  State,  in  a condition  which  should  shame  a savage  or 
tingle  the  cheek  of  an  infidel.  Complaints  like  these  are 
too  often  passed  by  as  idle  words,  or  as  the  mutterings  of 
dreamy  enthusiasts  ; but  if  anything  was  needed  to  show  the 
necessity  of  further  legislation,  it  was  found  in  the  miserable 
arrangements  and  provision  for  the  insane  at  this  place.  It 
is  most  painful  to  be  obliged  to  speak  as  we  have  of  the  es- 
tablishment at  Tariffville,  and  we  are  unanimously  of  opin- 
ion that  it  should  not  longer  be  tolerated.  It  is  the  misfor- 
tune of  complaints  like  these  that  they  are  supposed  to  be 
directed  against  individuals ; it  is  the  system  which  is  at 
fault,  which  compels  its  insane  and  imbecile  poor  to  be  kept 
in  such  a manner. 

We  found  in  the  almshouse  at  Hartford  eight  or  ten  peo- 
ple, who  were  as  comfortably  cared  for  as  could  be  expected 
at  that  place.  Most  of  the  insane  poor  of  this  town, 


535 


amounting  to  about  sixty,  who  are  not  accommodated  at  the 
State  Hospital  or  at  the  Retreat,  are  sent  to  the  asylums  at 
Brattleboro,  Vt.,  Butler  Hospital,  Providence,  Concord,  N. 
H.,  and  even  to  Maine.  Notwithstanding  this,  all  are  not 
accommodated,  even  some  acute  cases,  which  call  loudly 
upon  our  sympathy.  At  the  New  Haven  almshouse  there 
were  fifty-four  of  the  insane  in  the  different  rooms  of  the 
building  and  in  cells  in  a special  department.  A few  of  these 
were  lying  upon  loose  hay,  were  without  much  clothing,  and 
were  in  a very  filthy  condition.  No  one  was  more  sensible 
of  the  defective  arrangements  and  the  necessary  wants  than 
Mr.  Bradley,  the  keeper. 

The  subject  of  increased  accommodations  for  the  insane 
poor  has  come  to  be  regarded  as  necessarily  attended  with 
great  expense.  This  is  not  strange  when  we  consider  the 
amount  which  has  been  required  in  this  State,  and  the  very 
large  sums  expended  or  contracted  for  in  others.  It  has  ex- 
cited the  astonishment  of  foreigners  that  we  have  lavished 
so  much  upon  our  pauper  insane  hospitals,  and  it  is  begin- 
ning to  excite  the  astonishment  of  reflecting  men  here  that 
it  was  ever  considered  as  necessary.  It  is  not  unjust  to  the 
specialists  to  say  that  a large  share  of  this  is  due  to  them- 
selves ; it  was  to  be  supposed  that  the  men  who  had  given 
special  attention  to  the  subject  were  likely  to  be  the  best  in- 
formed. The  responsibility,  however,  must  be  shared  by  the 
different  managing  boards,  and  by  the  citizens  of  the  loca- 
tions selected.  But  there  are  indications  of  a change  of 
opinion,  and  it  is  beginning  to  be  recognized  that  very  large 
and  very  expensive  establishments  are  neither  proper  nor 
necessary  for  the  pauper  chronic  insane.  The  cry  which  has 
been  raised,  that  nothing  is  too  good  for  these  people,  has 
nothing  of  force  in  it,  unless  it  is  essential  for  their  comfort 
or  cure.  It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind,  however,  in  this  vibra- 
tion of  opinions,  that  there  is  a parsimony  in  expenditure 
which  may  defeat  the  very  objects  we  have  in  view.  We  do 
not  give  gold  watches  or  fine  pictures  as  the  playthings  of  an 
infant ; a rubber  doll  or  a coarse  engraving  are  equally  ac- 


536 


ceptable.  The  folly  of  a neighboring  State  which  has 
erected  buildings  for  this  class  at  an  expense  of  thirty-six 
hundred  dollars  for  each  bed,  and  the  extravagance  of  an- 
other which  has  spent  millions  upon  an  unfinished  building, 
are  examples  of  warning  for  us.  Dr.  Earl  of  Northampton 
is  beginning  to  see  that  there  is  too  much  of  “ extravagance,” 
nor  does  he  recognize  that  very  expensive  buildings  or  fit- 
tings are  necessary  for  the  care  or  comfort  of  these  people. 
Speaking  of  the  institution  at  Danvers,  he  says  : u For  at 
least  one-half  of  the  cost  of  construction  of  the  hospital, 
nothing  is  added  to  its  excellence  as  a curative  institution, 
and  no  compensation  is  gained  in  any  way  at  all  commensu- 
rate with  the  amount  of  money  disbursed.”  If  equal  com- 
fort and  protection  is  afforded,  then  all  the  money  which  is 
put  into  such  a building,  which  does  not  aid  in  a cure,  is 
almost  spent  in  vain. 

For  a large  part  of  the  chronic  insane  the  prospect  of  cure 
is  dark  indeed.  Dr.  Shew,  in  one  of  his  reports,  stated  that 
only  about  two  per  cent,  of  the  patients  in  the  State  Hospi- 
tal were  curable.  Perhaps  the  percentage  is  larger  now, 
probably  it  is,  but  it  accords  with  all  authority  to  say  that 
few  only  are  likely  to  be  cured.  If  this  fact  is  sufficiently 
recognized,  it  may  in  the  future  help  us  in  our  endeavors. 

It  may  be  inferred  from  what  has  previously  been  said  that 
we  do  not  regard  it  as  possible  for  the  towns  to  make  adequate 
provision  for  the  pauper  insane  within  their  own  limits.  A 
few  large  ones  might  do  it  with  greater  cost  to  themselves 
than  now,  but  for  the  smaller  ones  it  is  utterly  impossible. 
The  ordinary  almshouse  is  neither  convenient  nor  proper,  and 
so  associate  care  has  become  the  necessity ; it  is  cheaper  and 
better  for  all. 

The  absolute  necessities  for  the  pauper  chronic  insane  are 
that  they  should  be  comfortably  housed  and  clothed,  carefully 
watched,  and  properly  fed  and  warmed  ; for  these  purposes  no 
costly  buildings  or  extravagant  furnishing  are  necessary.  So 
many  of  them  are  comparatively  quiet  that  a large  corps  of 
attendants  are  not  required,  and  some  of  them  are  able  to 


537 


perform  considerable  labor.  Dr.  Shew  says  that  46  about 
forty  per  cent,  of  all  the  men  are  regularly  employed  on  the 
farm  and  grounds  ” of  the  hospital ; and  the  value  of  the 
farm  products  is  estimated  at  nearly  eleven  thousand  dollars. 
Occupation  is  essential  for  every  one  ; it  is  a healthful  and 
curative  agent  for  all,  and  is  a very  essential  necessity  in  all 
penal,  reformatory,  or  charitable  institutions.  The  absence 
of  employment  is  one  of  the  worst  features  which  we  have 
seen  at  any  time,  whether  it  was  in  hospitals  for  the  insane, 
in  almshouses,  in  prisons,  or  asylums  for  the  inebriate. 

We  are  convinced  that  there  is  a necessity  for  further  pro- 
vision for  the  pauper  insane,  and  especially  the  pauper 
chronic  insane,  in  this  State.  As  a remedy  we  would  suggest 
a suitable  location  in  a healthful  region,  where  land  is  cheap, 
water  abundant,  and  access  convenient.  Plain  and  simple 
buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  two  hundred  of  the  insane 
need  not  and  should  not  be  expensive,  and  would  be  sufficient 
for  a commencement ; additions  could  be  made  as  necessity 
required.  By  removing  the  more  tractable  cases  from  Mid- 
dletown, room  would  be  afforded  for  the  recent  and  violent 
ones,  which  are  now  loudly  demanding  relief. 

So  large  a number  of  our  population  become  insane  that  it 
is  well  for  all  of  us  that  proper  attention  should  be  given  to 
these  unfortunates.  In  this  day  of  whirl  and  extravagance 
no  one  can  tell  who  may  be  the  next  sufferer : 44  Whosoever 
thinketh  he  standeth,  let  him  take  heed  lest  he  fall.” 

Though  not  ’ coming  within  the  scope  of  our  inquiry,  yet 
relating  to  it,  we  venture  to  make  a suggestion  concerning 
the  criminal  insane.  A certain  number  of  these  are  now  in 
confinement  in  the  State  prison  and  in  our  common  jails ; we 
were  told  that  there  were  ten  of  this  class  at  the  General 
Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Middletown.  It  is  respectfully 
submitted  whether  this  association  is  advisable  ; the  mingling 
of  the  criminal  with  our  honest  poor  is  repugnant  to  all  feel- 
ings of  respect  or  propriety.  Suitable  accommodation  should 
be  made  by  themselves,  either  in  the  State  prison  or  in  one 
of  the  county  jails.  The  probable  expense  would  be  no 


538 


greater  than  at  present,  better  care  would  be  secured,  and 
much  relief  would  be  afforded  by  putting  them  in  one 
location. 

We  have  endeavored  to  give  this  subject  the  consideration 
which  its  importance  demands.  Ours  is  not  the  only  State 
which  is  anxiously  examining  and  endeavoring  to  learn  its 
duty  with  reference  to  various  charities.  There  is  danger 
that  we  may  be  led  into  extravagance  by  our  enthusiasm  or 
by  ill-digested  plans.  All  new  projects,  therefore,  and  all 
development  of  old  ones,  should  be  carefully  examined,  in 
view  of  the  rights  and  interests  of  all.  It  was  well  said  by 
Governor  Tilden,  in  his  address  before  the  Social  Science 
Association  in  1876:  “ While  we  exercise  every  sentiment 
of  humanity ; while  we  do  all  in  our  power  to  relieve  misfor- 
tune and  to  overcome  evils,  and  apply  discipline  and  enforce 
reformation,  at  the  same  time  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  the 
industrious  millions  who  keep  out  of  the  poorhouses  and  peni- 
tentiaries are  also  entitled  to  the  consideration  and  the  care 
of  the  government.” 

A bill  is  herewith  submitted,  embracing  the  several  sug- 
gestions on  our  State  charities,  and  also  a resolution  concern- 
ing the  insane  poor. 


H.  Sidney  Hayden, 
Benj.  Stark, 

Gurdon  W.  Russell, 
C.  A.  Lindsley, 

Wm.  Deming, 


Commission  by 
}>  Executive 
appointment . 


y 


January  26,  1877. 


539 


General  Assembly,  January  Session,  A.D.  1877. 

Whereas,  the  arrangements  made  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
insane  poor  are  insufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  this  unfor- 
tunate class  of  persons  in  this  State,  therefore, 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly , That  the  Governor,  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  Senate,  be  authorized  to  appoint  a commission 
of  three  persons  to  select  a suitable  location  for  a second  hospital 
for  the  insane  poor,  procure  proper  plans  for  a building  that  will 
accommodate  two  hundred  persons  of  that  class,  together  with  an 
estimate  of  the  probable  cost  of  such  accommodations,  including 
all  charges,  and  make  a report  in  the  premises  to  the  next  General 
Assembly. 


AN  ACT  IN  ADDITION  TO  AN  ACT  CONCERNING  PAUPERS, 
BEING  TITLE  15  OF  THE  GENERAL  STATUTES. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 

Assembly  convened : 

Section  1.  No  town  shall  make  any  agreement  to  furnish  sup 
port  or  maintenance  of  any  of  its  poor  in  any  place  outside  of  the 
town  in  which  the  pauper  resides,  unless  such  town  shall  have 
established  a poorhouse  in  such  place  according  to  the  provisions 
of  the  tenth  section,  part  one,  chapter  two,  of  said  title;  and  the 
selectmen  or  town  agent  of  any  town  who  shall  make  any  such 
agreement  shall  forfeit  the  sum  of  fifteen  dollars  a month  for  each 
and  every  month  such  agreement  shall  be  continued,  to  be  re- 
covered by  any  person,  .in  an  action  brought  on  this  statute. 

Sec.  2.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  with  this  act  are 
hereby  repealed.' 


RESOLUTIONS  IN  REGARD  TO  H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN. 


The  Connecticut  Hospital  for  the  Insane, 
Middletown,  Conn. 


We,  the  trustees,  desire  to  have  entered  upon  our  records  an 
expression  of  our  regard  at  the  voluntary  retirement  of  Mr.  Hay- 
den from  our  board,  and  our  appreciation  of  his  long  and  valuable 
services.  To  no  citizen  of  our  State  is  a greater  debt  of  gratitude 
due  for  the  amelioration  of  the  condition  of  its  insane  than  to  Mr. 
Hayden.  From  the  very  inception  of  the  plan  for  the  founding  of 
our  insane  hospital  before  1865  to  last  July,  when  he  retired,  he 
has  been  untiring  in  his  devotion  to  and  work  for  the  afflicted  in 
mind  of  the  State.  The  present  condition  of  this  hospital,  of  which 
we  are  so  justly  proud,  is  in  a great  measure  due  to  his  unflagging 
zeal.  No  weather  was  so  inclement,  or  call  so  inconvenient,  that 
he  could  not  attend  to  his  charitable  duties  here;  in  the  early  days 
when  the  income  was  not  always  sufficient  to  meet  the  expenses, 
loaning  his  personal  credit,  and  aiding  all  by  his  advice  and  mature 
judgment.  His  absence  will  long  be  felt  at  our  meetings,  and  his 
memory  ever  be  held  in  affection  and  esteem. 

Resolved , That  the  above  resolution  be  entered  upon  our  records, 
and  that  the  secretary  transmit  an  engrossed  copy  of  the  same  to 
Mr.  Hayden. 


Attest, 


J.  W.  ALSOP, 

Secretary  Board  of  Trustees. 


Middletown,  Conn.,  Nov.  4,  1889. 


541 


ON  one  occasion  the  Hon.  Richard  D.  Hubbard  said  : “ We 
put  up  monuments,  but  we  write  no  history.” 
Connecticut  delayed  providing  for  her  unfortunate  insane 
for  many  years  ; much  longer  than  other  States.  It  is  now 
twenty-five  (25)  years  since  we  entered  upon  the  work.  No 
State  has  ever  accomplished  more  in  one  quarter  of  a cen- 
tury or  more  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties  interested. 

The  trustees,  superintendent,  and  treasurer  have  made 
annual  reports ; the  trustees  a reprint  in  one  volume  of  the 
first  to  the  twenty-first  inclusive ; the  first  superintendent  a 
history  of  the  first  ten  years,  and  the  present  superintendent 
a memoranda  of  the  history  to  the  present  time. 

Although  our  Governors,  wardens  of  the  State  prison,  and 
the  hospital  trustees  have  made  frequent  requests  of  the 
legislature  to  provide  for  the  insane  convicts  at  Wethersfield, 
it  has  not  been  done,  perhaps  because  their  reports  were 
mislaid  and  other  matters  seem  to  demand  more  immediate 
attention.  Regarding  it  a privilege  and  duty,  I offer  to  the 
present  legislature  a reprint  of  all  the  reports  that  have  been 
published  by  those  now  in  office  and  by  the  honored  dead 
whose  names  are  found  in  the  second  report,  that  of  1868. 
If  my  friends  or  any  member  of  this  present  legislature 
desire  further  information  respecting  this  great  charity,  it 
will  afford  me  pleasure  to  confer  with  them. 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN. 


Windsor,  Conn.,  Feb.  20,  1895. 


ADDENDUM. 


I recommend  the  Humane  Committee  of  each  Legislature 
visit  the  Hospital  and  report,  as  the  work  done  there  is  highly 
important  for  the  State  and  many  families.  Other  States 
entered  upon  this  work  at  an  early  date  although  none  have 
accomplished  more  than  ours.  I recommend  the  trustees 
secure  the  re-appointment  of  the  members  if  in  the  interest 
of  the  Hospital.  If  this  had  been  done  the  Hon.  Robbins 
Battell  would  have  continued  to  represent  his  county  from 
1866  to  1895.  This  great  charity  had  no  better  friend,  nor 
will  it  ever  have.  He  gave  freely ; the  clock  with  its  chime 
of  bells,  as  one  illustration,  his  personal  expenses  and  his 
valuable  time,  — all  that  he  could  do  for  this  noble  charity  ; 
yet  the  Superintendent’s  memoranda  records  “ services  ended 
in  1891.”  This  record  is  unjust  to  ourselves. 

I recommend  the  trustees  be  directed  to  decline  all  con- 
ditional gifts,  as  they  serve  without  compensation.  In  my 
judgment  this  service  is  one  of  the  best  features  in  the 
Charter,  and  may  it  ever  continue.  All  conditional  gifts  for 
the  care  and  support  of  the  insane  should  be  referred  to  our 
private  incorporated  hospitals. 

I desire  to  call  the  attention  of  the  present  General 
Assembly  to  that  part  of  the  Trustees’  Twenty-first  Report 
respecting  the  wrong  done  by  transferring  the  criminal 
insane  to  a curative  institution.  Since  reading  that  part  of 
Governor  Coffin’s  Message  referring  to  this  matter  and  also 
the  report  of  the  Warden  of  the  State  Prison  at  Wethers- 
field, I am  much  encouraged,  the  time  is  near  when  this 
important  matter  shall  receive  attention.  To  be  well  done 
it  should  be  done  quickly. 


543 

I direct  attention  to  the  reports  of  the  Treasurer,  Mr.  M B. 
Copeland.  Prom  them  you  will  learn  he  has  placed  to  the 
credit  of  the  State  a large  sum ; thus  by  collecting  interest 
on  amounts  in  hand  from  time  to  time,  thereby  assisting 
the  towns  by  reducing  charges  for  care  of  their  insane. 

H.  SIDNEY  HAYDEN. 


Windsor,  March  4,  1895. 


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